8 September 2015, Tuesday *The Meseta section of our El Camino is dedicated to Nick and Margie from Iowa. Thanks for all the laughs, insights and good humor. You were the greatest companions on this interesting stage of 'The Way!' GPS: 4 hours 53 minutes of walking 13.75 miles Arrived at 1445 in Hornillos after 6 hours and 45 minutes. FITBIT: 30,632 steps, 13.38 miles, 35 floors/stairs. Left hotel a little before 0800 and before breakfast thinking we would find a cafe in about 4 miles or 2 hours. Right away we get Blondie near the statue of El Cid. We were passing the Cathedral at 0800 and then took a few more photos with the morning light. The way out of Burgos leads us past the Arc of San Martin, a remnant of the old ... read more

6 September 2015, Sunday, Stage 13, San Juan de Ortega to Burgos GPS: 16.32 miles, 5 hours 42 minutes moving, leave 0800 arrive 1710 with 1 hour 20 min. lunch stop. Fitbit: 16.89 miles, 50 stairs, Steps 37,983; 71 degrees We leave La Henera at 8:00 a.m. The church bells are tolling as we walk by. It is going to be a long day to Burgos. We start walking along the wooded valley. It is a lovely, cool, crisp morning and I have light gloves on. We descend a little into Ages and have the most wonderful breakfast. People leaving say the chocolate croissants are to die for. But we opt for the generous empanadas filled with bacon, potato and vegetables. It is the recipe of the proprietor's mother and grandmother and delicious. We also had ... read more

4 September 2015, Friday, Stage 11 Santo Domingo to Belorado GPS: 14.78 miles. 7.5 hours from Parador to Casa Waslala. Lost moving time. Fitbit: 14.13 miles, 32,246 steps, 98 stairs. After a lovely breakfast in the Santo Domingo Parador we set off. We cross over Santo Domingo's sixteen arch bridge, barely recognizable due to many modifications. At Cruz de Los Valientes, a steel cross marks the spot where a deciding fight was held between two chosen fighters, one from Granon and one from Santo Domingo. Even though Santo Domingo had an experienced fighter and he was slathered wth olive oil, the common laborer from Granon was the winner--in Medieval times, it was sometimes the custom to submit such matters to the Divine Judge on the basis He would protect the innocent party! Granon is noted for ... read more

2 September 2015, Wednesday-rest day in Najera and trip to San Millan and monasteries We take the regional bus up to San Millan de la Cogolia, a name given to an ensemble of a village and two monasteries. Its roots lie in the community which grew around the work of a sainted hermit named Millan (473-574) who spent his life devoted to prayer in caves in the mountainous area. Suso, Latin meaning "upwards," is the name for the older monastery, near the caves. Yuso, Latin meaning "downwards," is the name of the newer one at the bottom of the valley. The ensemble is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We have only a few pictures from this day as there is no photography allowed in Yuso and they are adamant about enforcing this rule. Suso was built ... read more

31 August 2015, Monday, stage 8 GPS: 31 August, Monday. Viana to Navarette. Left at 0737, arrived 1445, GPS 14.58 miles 5 hour 21 minutes walking. Fitbit: Stairs 70 Steps 31,981 Miles 13.97. Stay at Palacio de Pulgadas one of the group Posadas del Camino. Leave at 7:37 we almost miss breakfast as there is no one at the desk and no breakfast activity in the bar. However, a lone woman behind the bar motions to a room down from the bar and it is as if you stepped through the closet and into Narnia. There are delicious fried eggs, bacon, the most lovely chocolate croissants, juice and fruits of many kinds, yoghurt, cheeses and hard sausages. Fueled, we head out for Navarette. We keep watch on the sky as the weather forecast has been for ... read more