Cardenuela Riopico to Castrojerez

Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and enjoy the journey. – Babs Hoffman

May 14 Cardenuela Riopico to Burgos

Today’s miles – 9.0 Total miles 177.6

Elizabeth:

The 9 miles into the city of Burgos was a bit chilly and wet but a short day is always appreciated. We took the Rio Route along the river and through parks. The grass was very tall and wet so the dirt paths along the paved walkways were a dite mushy.

Taking the alternate/green route along the river into Burgos
We weren’t the only ones wet today {stork}
Geese at a Burgos park lake
Mr. Mallard : )
Walking the river route in Burgos
C & C take such great selfies!!
Cooper and Gary goofin’ off : )
Pilgrim meal in Riopico

We heard from the kids last night, they had arrived at the apartment around 6:30 PM, after a 26 mile day for them!! Gary had rented it through Booking.com. It rated 9.4! We all agree! Two beds, two bathrooms (with tubs!), good sized living room, decent size kitchen and…coffee, espresso maker and…a washing machine! Cooper let me know about the tubs, which is a rare treat on the Camino. We picked up Epsom salts on the way. The lap of luxury!!

C & C found a wonderful cafe/bar earlier this morning, close the cathedral and the apartment. All within about 3 blocks! They had brunch there before we walked into town and highly recommended it! I did the laundry, rested a bit, we all shared pics and stories of our days apart recently and then G and I headed down to La Boveda Cafe. See pictures!! We all agreed we will sleep in tomorrow. La Boveda doesn’t open until 8:30AM. We’ll have a big breakfast together before heading out.

Entering Plaza Rey San Fernando, Burgos
Cathedral in Burgos
E in awe in the plaza
Stork on the cathedral
La Boveda Cafe French toast
Nutella waffle!!
Living room of our 2 bedroom apartment for the night.

C & C went to the Museum of Human Evolution this afternoon while we ate. We all met at the Cathedral de Santa Maria about 3:30PM, the main church in the old section of Burgos. The entrance fee is a wopping 5 euro ($5.40) each as Pilgrim’s. It includes an App allowing us to do a self guided tour while being told about the 1400’s chapels within the cathedral and more. Lots of pics!

G, C and C entering Burgos Cathedral
Now that’s a door!
A chapel inside the cathedral
Choir chairs
Incredible ceilings!
G taking a moment
A tapestry, intricately handwoven into…
…this!

I have been feeling exponentially grateful to have a wonderful husband, our own and extended family, close friends, a lovely home, we’re in good health and have the ability to travel. As we see how others live, whether it be a very tiny walk-up apartment in a city with no dryers…third floor clothes lines out windows, or a run down house with no heat or air conditioning in a tiny village, I see my short term setbacks as insignificant.

Tonight’s schedule… Valor store for my favorite chocolate bars and pizza for dinner.

Valor chocolate, chocolate, chocolate!
3 really good pizzas!

G: The weather has been quite varied. A couple days ago it was sunny and low 80s. Today topped out at 55 and the forecast for the next several days is mostly cloudy, a few showers and highs in the mid 50s with overnight lows of 40. Great for hiking, but not so great for socializing in the evenings. I put in a request for mid 50s through 3pm then lows 70s till 9pm. I will let you know what happens. I guess if that is my only “complaint”, life is pretty good!

May 15 Burgos to Hornillos

Today’s miles – 12.5 Total miles 190.1

Elizabeth: Happy 65th Birthday to Gary!! : )

Gary’s Birthday breakfast was amazing! We went back to La Boveda in Burgos before heading out for the day’s walk westward toward Santiago. Check put the exotic and delectable waffles, pancakes and eggs Benedict we all consumed without hesitation! And, Gary got a brownie on the way out! Good thing we needed to knock out 13 miles today!

Cooper and Chelsea enjoyed most of the walk with new found friends and each other. Gary and I walked mostly together, not seeing many other pilgrims on The Way as we left close to 9:30AM! We enjoyed seeing 9 or so people on horseback riding the Camino and watched a sheep herder with 50 sheep for close to 45 minutes. He had two dogs that were impressively mustering those fleeced animals that strayed from the group or moved the entire flock from one lush green grass pasture to another.

Respect for the knight! : )
Salmon Benedict with guacamole, awesome!
Pancakes, Nutella, fruit and whipped cream!!
Burgos park walk out of town
E heading to the place, in “THE WAY” where Martin Sheen’s character gets his back pack back from the local boy who stole it
Remember “THE WAY ” shot here?
More local art in Burgos
Cooper in same Burgos park

We stayed in Hornillos tonight. Enjoyed at short pilgrim mass at 6 and headed into a bar across the street from the church for a beer. Gotta love the spontaneous experiences that commonly occur on these Caminos! We heard an American love song so we entered the tiny bar. The guy behind the microphone playing an electric base guitar looked straight out of a biker bar! Rough exterior, leather attire, bandana covering his head, lots of facial hair. Just didn’t fit and made us laugh! After about 45 minutes of Spanish and American songs played, the lively small local crowd began to thin and the 11 of us remaining pilgrims shuffled into the quaint dining area. The food was fabulous! Again, the rustic, unassuming bar and the culinarily presented dishes served didn’t fit! It made our evening!!

Lots of ways to enjoy the Camino!
Three stork nests. And the bells were ringing really loudly!
Ahhhh
Cooper, Chelsea and Gary heading into Hornillos
Tweet!
Gary saw the equestrian group again later in the day
Pilgrim mass and blessing – German, Spanish Korea, UK and USA pilgrims
Our fun “Biker” bar!
Eggplant with Pomegranates and mango…at the “Biker” bar!! : )
Chelsea and lots of flowers just before Castrojeriz
C, E and G on The Way

Off to bed. C & C are across the street from our accommodations as the place we had booked here didn’t have a second room. We will both have breakfast at 7 at our respective lodgings and head out on a new day’s adventure by 7:30 tomorrow.

A Great B Day for G and Buen Camino to all!

May 16 Hornillos to Castrojerez

Today’s miles – 12.7 Total miles 202.8

Elizabeth: Cooper made a literal but also philosophical statement today. A bit of info first… when you enter most albergues you place your shoes on a rack and your hiking sticks in a large basket or bucket so the day’s dirt doesn’t go into the sleeping quarters. Also, this year has been quite busy and many who have not booked in advance for each night or those at the ‘ first come first serve’ places have been getting up very early (4:30AM in a few cases) so they get to the next town in time to get a bed. We do not have to do that. We have reservations so we can get up slowly and take breaks during the day. Today Cooper said, “We are last sticks in the bucket” . Literally leaving the albergues last but also, no rush on ‘our’ Camino. It’s nice to be leisurely. To add to that, Gary has been telling the kids, ” This is an experience, not a vacation.” We are adventurers, not tourists on the Camino.

Enjoy a photo journal of our day!