The weather forecast for today called for rain. When we arose, it was drizzling but by the time we got out, the rain had stopped. The first 17 km to Calzadilla was straight and flat and uninspiring. We walked through endless wheat fields. We were impressed by their ability to grow such good crops in such rocky soil. Tonight we are in a new hotel in Terradillos de los Templarios .
Whoopi we have just passed the halfway point to Santiago de Compostela!
Today was the second of two rest days as we walked only a 20 and 26 km. After an hour this morning we stopped for a nice breakfast of ham and eggs. A good part of today's walk was beside a canal
We were fortunate with the weather as we are at our destination hotel by 2 pm and avoided the rain. Our lunch comprised a bunch of fruit from the market; it was éxcellent and only €2.
Last night's sleep in Castrojerez was very good- helped a lot by having a nice room and a whole house to ourselves . On leaving the village we walked on a bit of restored Roman road. We walked further than we wanted to our breakfast destination, but it was worth it; the bacon and eggs and coffee really hit the spot after 11 km. Today we received a bit of rain while walking but nothing substantial. It rained more after we checked into our hotel room. The hotel in Boadilla del Camino great as it is new and has all the amenities needed.
Today we made mistakes including forgetting to have our credentials stamped and making wrong turn. As a result we took a long time to get going today. Nevertheless we had a very pleasant day of walking over rolling country . Lots wind mills today. We stopped at San Bol to soak our feet in cold spring water and drink leche caliente. On arriving in Castrojerez we took a long time to find our hotel room because it was a house in a camp ground.
We made a mistake and got up at 5 instead of 6 AM. As a result were on the Camino just as it was starting to get light. The walk into Burgos was interesting because there were 3 options, one beside the highway, another along a less busy street and a third along the river. We took the latter although it wasn't marked and may have been longer.
Burgos is a beautiful city with many interesting churches. We found a post office in a mall so that we could mail Sullivan's birthday card. We also got me new insoles and Susie a croaky for her sun glasses.
We walked on to Tardajos and checked into our hotel. It is very nice and for the bargain price of €32. The Pilgrim menu for €10 was great- salad, stew or chicken, strawberries for dessert. They offered and we accepted seconds of the entre. We ate with a nice Irish couple.
After the usual morning routine we headed off through the village of Belorado which had some interesting Camino markers embedded in the streets. After walking through grain fields in the morning we were led up onto a high plateau in the afternoon. What a change as the terrain led us onto a high plateau and through pine forests. We met other Canadians and Australians. Around 2pm we stopped for a bite and beer- nice sandwich and hoppy beer. We got to our hotel in Atapuercà at 3:30 and checked into a really òld hotel. The door to our room was just high enough to clear my head. For dinner we started with a Russian salad which was a nice potato salad. The entrée was steak and dessert was orange cream. Dinner came with a bottle of wine and leche caliente.
We were up for 7 am breakfast of toast and coffee or hot milk. The weather forecast was for no rain so we were able to send the umbrellas ahead with a backpack. We walked into Santo Domingo easily and met a nice Australian couple with whom we walked into Granon where they stopped for breakfast. We walked on to Redicilla where we stopped for a snack and leche caliente. Today the vineyards disappeared and the grain fields returned.
