Spain
Villafranca Montes de Oca

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    • Day 15

      Day 15 Atapuorca

      May 20 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 50 °F

      (No wifi yesterday, so this is posted a day late.) The climb this morning was beautiful. We walked a long way through a very pretty forrest where we heard cuckcoo birds calling, just like a clock. In the small town of Ages, a local lady asked if we would like to see the local church, so we got the key to it and opened it to show us. We are staying in Atapuerca in an albergue that has a kitchen and family room. We visited Atapuerca, a Unesco World Heritage site, where one million years old human remains were found. Big news: we have walked 273 kilometers so far. That equals 163 miles completed. Or 40 miles more than from STL city to Columbia, MO.Read more

    • Day 20

      Villafranca de Montes de Oca

      May 14 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

      Day 12 Villafranca de Montes de Orca
      Distance from Belorado to Villafranca 12kms

      Woke to a chilly 9c and light rain which required a warm outer layer and ponchos but we soon warmed up as we got into the walk. The path today was wide and at times muddy along open countryside and woodland climbing to a high point of 900m.
      After a nice short walk we arrived at Villafranca (population of 200) and 3 fabulous bars/restaurants) just in time for lunch with fellow pilgrim friends. We enjoyed a delicious oxtail stew whole mushrooms in a tomato broth and battered sardines we were in food heaven.
      Villafranca was once known for the bandits that roamed the area preying on pilgrims we are glad those days are in the past.
      We are privileged to be staying in San Anton Abad a 13th century building (and once giving shelter to pilgrims) which has recently been restored
      such luxury.
      A rest afternoon for 2 deserving pilgrims heading for Atapuerca tomorrow.
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    • Day 12

      Day 9 - Misty Misery

      September 24, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

      “Some people walk in the rain; others just get wet.” – Roger Miller

      Day 9 - Belorado to Villafranca Montes de Oca - 12.1km

      Neither Linda nor I actually wanted to walk today. We felt very righteous giving it a go when seeing all the people heading to the bus stop to take the bus to Burgos. Apparently, there are no rooms today at the next town from here - San Juan de Ortega, so they are heading to Burgos instead.

      Cloudy and overcast day with the promise of rain. We headed out just after 8 am to a cool morning. Normally I love to walk on a cool, crisp day. But, add the overcast sky and intermittent drizzle, and I was wishing I was on the damned bus too.

      Halfway to our destination for the day, we stopped in the small town of Villambistia for a drink and breakfast. We dawdled as we were still feeling tired and disinclined to continue. At the same time, we wanted to just get the days walk over with. As we sat there watching the drizzle, the wind picked up and the rain started pelting down. Hhhhmmm this place was also an Albergue…. It did cross both of our minds to just grab a room and stay put having a quiet reading day. But as it happens so often, the wind died down and the rain let up. So, we geared up and started putting one foot in front of the other again.

      We eventually reached our destination of Villafranca Montes de Oca. Appears to be a lovely little town too, with a quite impressive hotel / pilgrim’s Albergue. We of course checked into the Albergue side. Something finally to be grateful for: both were given lower bunks!!!

      It is cold out today too, to add to the misery. In the Albergue, I have not been able to get warm - I have been here 3hrs and still freezing (even after a hot shower!).

      Tomorrow is a bus day to Burgos where I will stay for 3 nights - if I can find a bed that doesn’t cost me an arm and a leg! Have an email appointment request in to a physiotherapist and will follow up with a phone call or personal visit, on Monday morning! I think I may also use the time in Burgos to look for some warmer clothes and a jacket. I can also take the opportunity to send a small package of things I won’t use now, ahead to Santiago to be held until I get there.

      Dinner was a prepackaged pasta meal and vegetable soup, with some chorizo slices. Couldn’t be bothered to pay 18€ for the pilgrim meal!

      Early to bed tonight!!
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    • Day 11

      Day 10 walking!

      May 18 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 7 °C

      So we had nice meal in the hotel restaurant last night, very civilised set menu and then in bed/bunks by 9.30 -everyone is exhausted! We were in a room with 4 sets bunk beds but only had 5 of us in there so 3 top bunks empty, and so far Fiona has kindly taken the top bunk, well she is younger than me! But tonight we arrived little late and there were only top bunks left, so I will be experiencing trying to sleep on top bunk tonight!!
      So we walked about 25 Km today, leaving Villafranca with threatening clouds above as we tackled quite steep hill first thing, the viewing point was at 1,120m and was covered with dense pine forest. The path continued up and down with rather oppressive pines and no villages for 12 Km. After lunch, the way was at a lower level and the surrounding more gentle although forested it had glades with beautiful wild flowers and then we came across cows with young calves. We also had little drizzle on and off. We also walked past queue for convent Albergue in one village, well …. the rucksack were in the queue! The rest of the walk included another hill with cross on top until we arrived at our destination here at our quirky Albergue in Cardeñuela Riopico.
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    • Day 20

      12k over Alto da la Pedraja

      October 7, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C

      Today's big climb started right out the back door of our hotel. About 5k climbing to the top of a ridge list as 1100 meters above sea level (about 3600 feet I think!)

      We got to walk through a forest for the first time in over a week. Taking a late morning coffee break in San Juan de Ortega.Read more

    • Day 19

      Chilling at Hotel San Anton Abad

      October 6, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

      We have walked around the tiny village of Villafranca Montes de Oca ( The Rio Oca flows down from the mountains through town) . Everything is closed for Siesta. At 5PM, the super mercado opens, and we will get a bottle of local wine.

      Update: Villafranca has a Jai Alai Fronton!

      Meanwhile we have found a small terrace with shade and sun to chill out. Two members of the staff just just us some walnuts, right out of the trees out back, to snack on.
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    • Day 23

      Day 15-Villfranca Montes de Oca

      September 19, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 72 °F

      I can't say enough about our stay last night at La Aldea Encantada. It was one kilometer off the Camino and had a few nice houses, alot of crumbling houses, no church bells and no services. I slept great since it was so quiet there. Apparently, the original Camino ran through there and our hostess showed us the original trail to take back to meet the new trail. Dinner last night was made by the hostess's mother with alot of it coming from their garden. It was delicious.

      Today's walk was on rolling hills and through three towns. One has a hermitage built into the mountain. We snacked on some salchichón, cheese and bread on the way. Alot of the walk was on a gravel path next to the highway. Many semi trucks were driving by and back when I was in my 20's, drivers would honk at me. Well, fast forward a few decades, I have to work a little harder to get them to honk. You'll see my efforts in the video.

      The weather was great and all the body parts are working well and don't hurt. This is a very cute town with several places to eat.
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    • Day 21

      Villafranca Montes de Oca

      September 5, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F

      Shorter day today, had a leisurely walk of 10 miles today. Mom found a man last night but decided he was too young and left him behind. Belorado has some of the coolest murals I have ever seen. A couple of beautiful churches ⛪️ today and lots of sunflowers fields, even found some happy ones.Read more

    • Day 9

      9.DAY | 30 km

      May 7, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

      Mir fehlen die Worte...

      Besonders hier gibt es diese Tage wo deine Füße einfach nein sagen und du nicht weißt wo du die Kraft her bekommen sollst und dann bleibt dir nichts anderes als alles an Stärke aus deinem Inneren zu ziehen, was bei mir mit meinem Glauben echt nicht wenig ist. Es ist wirklich unglaublich, aber dass was ich mir über den Tag wünsche erreicht mich. Als ich auf der Hälfte der Strecke war und mir die Kräfte gefehlt haben kreuzten drei Italiener meinen Weg und sowie es hier Gang und Gäbe ist, fingen wir an uns zu unterhalten bis wir zusammen vor einer Bar saßen und einer von ihnen meine Füße massierte und wir den ganzen Weg entlang vor Lachen nicht mehr konnten. Dann bekam ich eine SMS meiner Camino Familie die mir sagten "Elli wir laufen gerade zurück und holen dich" hier ist mit holen aber tatsächlich nicht mit dem Auto gemeint, sondern sie liefen einfach um mich zu entlasten einige Kilometer zurück. Nun sagte ich zu meinem Engel hier auf dem Camino "Pit wie soll ich dass wieder gut machen ? Ich gebe viel lieber als zu nehmen" und er antwortete mir "Elli du hast es dir verdient und nun ist die Zeit in der dein Leben es dir zurück zahlt" Was soll ich sagen du kommst an deine Grenzen aber hast nicht die Zeit für negative Gedanken, weil du hier zuviel gutes siehst. Heute schlafe ich mit 30 Menschen in einem Zimmer, meine liebsten sind natürlich mit mir, aber mir ist durch diese verschiedenen Herbergen definitiv klar geworden, was ich eigentlich habe und was man letzten Endes braucht.

      Weiter geht's ich bleibe stark !

      Mi mancano le parole...

      Soprattutto qui, ci sono giorni in cui i piedi dicono di no e non sai da dove prendere la forza e allora non hai altra scelta che tirare tutta la forza dal tuo interiore, che non è davvero poco per me con la mia fede. È davvero incredibile, ma ciò che desidero durante la giornata mi raggiunge. Quando ero a metà strada e mi mancavano le forze, tre italiani hanno incrociato il mio cammino e, come si usa qui, abbiamo iniziato a parlare finché non ci siamo seduti insieme davanti a un bar e uno di loro mi ha massaggiato i piedi e non abbiamo smesso di ridere per tutto il percorso. Poi ho ricevuto un messaggio dalla mia famiglia del Cammino che diceva: "Elli, stiamo tornando a piedi a prenderti", ma qui non si intende prenderti in macchina, si sono fatti chilometri a piedi per darmi un sostegno. Ora ho detto al mio angelo qui sul Camino: "Pit, come farò a ricambiare questo aiuto? Io preferisco dare che ricevere" e lui mi ha risposto "Elli te lo sei guadagnato e ora è il momento che la tua vita ti ripaghi". Che dire, raggiungi i tuoi limiti ma non hai tempo per i pensieri negativi perché qui vedi troppo bene. Oggi dormo con 30 persone in una stanza, i miei tesori sono con me, mi sono resa conto di ciò che ho e di ciò che hai veramente bisogno nella vita.

      Continuo ad andare avanti, ed essere forte!
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    • Day 23

      Day 15 - Villafranca

      September 19, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 72 °F

      We started the day just off the established Camino, only to find out that we were actually staying on the original Camino path. after the stay, we walked about a mile of the super secret path of the Camino.

      Make sure to watch both videos for all the video hilarity.
      Read more

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