Camino Day 15 - September 21

Today, we started walking again.. We wondered if it would be especially hard after a rest day, but we found it was indeed easier. Our bodies, and especially our feet were more rested, and after a break, we were really ready to walk again. We walked from Burgos to Hornillos del Camino, which was about 20 km. Our walk started through Burgos, but was actually quite a nice walk through parkways and the University campus. After we left the greater Burgos area, we entered the meseta. The meseta is the plains of this area - wide open, agricultural, and difficult for many pilgrims because of its openness. For us, it looks quite a bit like home, except for the hills (much flatter at home..) We only walked through 8 km of meseta today, but we´ll have 8 days of walking through this region. There are nice wide dirt paths for most of it, but very little shade. It was another pretty hot day of walking..

 

The highlight of today happened just as we entered the meseta. A cyclist rode past us with a carrier (like for a child) attached to the back of his bike. As we rounded the corner, there he was again, stopped at a little utility building. Turns out it was a dog carrier. He had four little dogs lined up by the building, and was taking their picture. Hilarious. And the dogs were SO cute! A little while later, we stopped at a shaded picnic area, and there he was again. He had hig four dogs lined up beside a water pump, and many pilgrims had their cameras out, snapping pictures. The man was from Italy, and very kind to let us all take pictures. Rob took one of the man with his dogs, and the man asked for the picture by email. We´ll do it when we get home.. The dogs were certainly the centre of attention.

 

We spent the night at a fabulous new casa rural (guesthouse / bed & breakfast) in Hornillos del Camino. There was a family running it, and they were all very kind.. They kept bringing in fresh vegetables from the large garden out back for us to eat.. The local people here really are lovely. I wonder sometimes what it´s like for them to have pilgrims pouring through their communities all of the time, but I guess those who stay are choosing that life. And hospitality and patience is their business.. They are used to poor (or no) Spanish, and tired, achy people. The kindness from the people who live here is really wonderful! So many we pass in the streets take time to wish us ¨Buen Camino¨ (Good Camino, or good journey).

 

Another good day on the way..

 

blessings,

susan