Burgos

I got off to a rather rocky start on this trip. My phone would not work here and, after trying several potential solutions, I had to buy another phone. It took many hours to get it set up and apps downloaded. Two-part authentication is not always a good thing!

I walked to Burgos the first day and stayed at the same campground as last year. This walk involved missing a turn, walking in a drainage ditch and along the shoulder of a major highway, climbing over guardrails, and then having to climb over a 5-foot fence. By the time I walked all over the city to various cellular shops, I ended up walking 17 miles that day!

The next day, I went to Tarjados. I got a room at La Fábrica, a repurposed flour mill. It has a very popular restaurant and was packed when I arrived. But it was very quiet in the evening and I was able to get caught up on my sleep and de-stressed.

I did an easy 6-mile walk to Tornillos today. I ran into Dan, whom I had met the first day, and walked most of the way with him. We walked past grain fields all day, which were beautiful, with the wind blowing across them. The town of Rabe de Las Calzadas had some great murals. Upon arrival in Tornillos, I stopped at the Meeting Point albergue (hostel) and secured a lower bunk. It's a very modern purpose-built place, not as interesting as the old renovated buildings. But it has all the amenities a pilgrim could want: reading lights and charging stations at every bunk, separate men's and women's bathrooms, and shelves for all your stuff. These small villages are very picturesque and sometimes quirky. I had lunch in a place showing nonstop music videos from the 60's and 70's: Aerosmith, AC/DC, David Bowie, George Thorogood.Read more