Missy retreated to her bench to escape the heat while she waited for me to get ready to go.

About eight miles of this view. Interstate was busy for 7:30 on a Saturday morning.

This town's murals aren't quite as charming. Perhaps if we weren't hating everything today.

There is a lot of barbed wire around this, but the sign said "apartments". We have questions.

Coffee at a table outside the hotel. Despite the hotel being named Camino de Santiago.

I believe that ridge is where we'd have walked if we weren't on the alternate route.

Missy finally indulged me with some Dirty Dancing. A passing cyclist cheered.

Don't be fooled. It may say Burgos, but it doesn't say "Welcome to".

We finally merged with the other route and got to walk along the river for several miles.

This is a beautiful park. It goes on for miles. I just wanted it to end.

A testament to how miserable we were that we did not even want to stop.

FINALLY done with that awful, awful hike.

Nikki is finally reunited with her very sentimental Camino sandals she got last year.

Andrea, Missy, me, Mim, Kathy, Meg, Yvonne, and Tom.

Leek confit and beef tartare. Missy got my beef. I could have licked up that sauce.

Seaweed rice and something else I gave to Missy.

Grilled Iberian pork with potatoes and chimichurri. Missy got none.

A Tale of Two Days

May 30 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

It’s today. They’re both today.

This morning sucked. Straight up. The albergue was sweltering all night. The alternate route we had to take was by the interstate all day, was not well marked, and had very little to offer pilgrims. We walked three sides of a field, only to decide someone had turned a sign, sending us out of our way. The hotel we stopped in for coffee wouldn’t let us sit inside. The Burgos sign, while appearing welcoming, was at least five miles out. Last night I slipped on the stairs and rolled my ankle, so the 14 miles seemed even longer.

It was a slog getting to town.

Once here, though, things improved dramatically. We were able to check in to our apartment a couple hours early, which meant being able to shower and change before lunch. The apartment is lovely and has both a washer and dryer.

Before lunch we met up with Nikki, who is staying right around the corner. Today was her rest day. We gave her the shoes we’re been carrying for her, and she bought us thank you drinks.

We then walked out of the old town to La Doña Clarita to meet some of the Borda crew. The food was delicious. Meg put it together for us. She has come back from Madrid to restart her hike, but leaves tomorrow. Andrea is doing really long days, so we won’t see him again. Missy leaves tomorrow. The rest of us are still on the same schedule, and we all have a rest day tomorrow, which will be good for my ankle.

I wish I could be out exploring Burgos, but I’m grateful to have a day of no hiking and no need to go find a laundromat. The high tomorrow is supposed to be 75, ten degrees cooler than today.

I wish Missy had had a better final hike, but this probably made her more than happy to go home!Read more