Options Today presented two quite different paths. One could take the senda after Shanagun, and continue on it for a couple of days, or one could head towards Calzadilla de los Hermanillos and have a quiet country walk on the way, and then walk along about 20km of Roman road the next day. The latter sounded like a good choice. Notebook Entry Started with a short stint to Moratinos, adjusted pack distribution and then on to San Nicolas del Real Camino and breakfast. Long walk into Shanagun. Didn´t stop - should have. Another longish walk through crop land to Calzade de Coto for lunch. Had difficulty finding the bar and had to ask a local who showed me the way. It still amazes me the generosity shown by local people to pilgrims. Nice walk then through ... read more

Notebook Entry Early departure from Fromista and had a little difficulty finding the way out of the town. Raining for much of the way to Villasirga. I had taken the river road, and had storm pants on to keep the wind out. Long straight stretch of senda into Carrion de los Condes. Chose to stay in a hostel which offered a bath. One needed to have been trained as a magician´s assistant to get into it, but it was delightful just the same. Nice menu tipico (typical regional meal) at a local restaurant. ... read more

Knee problems Today´s walk was mostly over fair to good farm road, and some minor sealed road coming into Castrojeriz. Had a pleasant early morning walk into Hontanas following breakfast at the albergue at San Bol. Leaving Hontanas, I slipped and jarred my knee. Slow and painful walk then for the remainder of the way to Castrojeriz, where I decided to call it a day rather than press on. Despite this, there was a bright moment. I was a little way past San Anton, a ruin, and saw three older women walking towards the road I was on. They were all rugged up and just appeared to be out for a stroll. They arrived at the intersection, turned and came walking up towards me. I thought they were about to pass, but they stopped, and one ... read more

Notebook Entry This was a mixed day of rural walking leaving Atapuerca and a long slog around the airport and then the suburbs to get into Burgos. Getting out of Atapuerca passed a penned up flock of sheep with one lone ewe on the outside of the fence, wanting to get in. Long climb to top of ridgeline, then down into the Burgos valley. Couple of delightful small villages - strange combination of ruins and new construction. Burgos very busy especially in evening. Visited cathedral - made up for the long slog. It is magnificent, both in its basic structure and the chapels that have been added over time. Albergue was near the cathedral. Used the private albergue with about 20 places, so was generally pretty quiet and well behaved.... read more

Leaving Granon There seems to be a bit of a ritual in the smaller albergue where cena y desayuno (dinner & breakfast) are part of the service that there is a slow start to the morning, or at least an ordered start. Compared to albergue who do not provide breakfast, where there is a bit of a free for all starting about 0630 as the early starters get away. At Granon, the Italian hostel keeper had breakfast at the table when I went up, and clearly did not expect people to wait to gather. Rather, we each ate and then prepared to leave. I was on the road shortly after 0800. The day was pleasant walking, with some familiar faces along the road as we passed and stopped, passed and stopped. Late in the day, the ... read more