Day 21: Carrion-Calzadilla de la Cueza

Mileage: 11 miles
Altitude gain: 171 feet
Altitude loss: 115 feet
Weather: cloudy; light rain in the morning, and then again after I arrived in Calzadilla
Total mileage: 249.75 miles
Today was short; I split up a guidebook stage, plus I made good time again. The very light rain and clouds made for a nice, cool walk, too. Mentally, however, I have to admit that the meseta was demanding. The path was a very long, straight, flat one, with little variation in surroundings and no villages in the middle. The result was that it felt like it took forever to reach landmarks (trees, mostly). I was very glad to reach the tiny village where I’m staying tonight.

1. Bridge over Rio Carrión this morning
2. The Real Monasterio de San Zoila at the edge of Carrion. It’s been converted into a luxury hotel.
3. One of the symbols of the Camino is shells, as you see on this marker. Another is yellow arrows, and I absolutely thought that these yellow flowers were arrows before I saw the actual marker!
4.-8. The first part of today’s gravel trail was next to a road, and then it was just the path passing between fields. Flat!
9. and 10. More flowers. The yellow ones are new in the past day or so; they almost look like little pom-poms cheering me on.Read more