Day 15: Belorado to San Juan de Ortega

Mileage: 16 miles
Elevation gain: 1,709 feet
Elevation loss: 879 feet
Weather: cool and cloudy. Perfect for a lot of uphill!
Total mileage: 166.5

We awoke to a mostly empty dormitory - Angela said the others arose at 5, although I didn’t hear them. Some impressive snoring, though! Then we found that none of the nearby cafes or bakeries were open, so we had to walk a while to get our coffees, etc. We did find sustenance eventually, of course, including some much-needed smoothies.

So much uphill today! It was a tough one, and I was very happy to finally see the tiny village of San Juan. We’re on upper bunks (I guess you have to get up at 5 for a lower bunk!) in a monastery-turned town albergue with many other people tonight. Hope to get some good sleep because tomorrow will also be long.
1. Ermita de la Virgen de la Peña outside Tosantos. Wild.
2. Double-fisting breakfast beverages!
3. and 4. The first part of the day was rolling farmland.
5. Monastery ruins outside of Villafranca Montes de Oca
6. Steeple in Villafranca from above because the serious climbing began here.
7. Looking back over that valley
8. and 9. Forest for the rest of the day
10. Still lots of blooms!Read more