Blogs from Santo Domingo de la Calzada, La Rioja, Spain, Europe

We left the albergue at 6:30, heading to Azofra for our breakfast stop. The trail was fairly flat once got out of town, plus it was fairly dark most of the 5 kilometers or so. We stopped at the Bar El Descanso de Peregrinos for our usual breakfast. Just outside of town we passed a pilgrim's monument then walked another 7 kilometers, passing a golf course a bunch of apartments and duplexes that looked pretty empty, with a lot of for sale signs. Just passed the golf course we finally found a bar for our next break, called Bar Jacobeo. The last 7 kilometers or so was pretty long, with some steep ups and downs. Finally spotting Santo Domingo de Calzadas, our destination for today, put a little zip in our stride, but only a little. ... 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

Enjoyed a quiet night and a good sleep. Up at 7:30. Mike needed to do some bike maintence. Our bikes were trashed from the mud and rain. The weather was overcast. Today's ride wasn't too challenging except for a strong head wind. Stopped in Granon for breakfast. The tortilla and zumo de naranja is excellent fuel for me. Most the towns were pretty quiet on a Sunday. Decided to stop in Villafranca de Monks Oca for the night after riding 25 miles. My muscles are starting to get a little fatigued. Found a nice little pension and scored a double bed. Most of the rooms have been two twin beds pushed together. Beautiful garden view and dinner is served at 7pm down stairs. The best part was a bathtub to soak in. Glad we stopped early ... read more

A short day today just 16km but we have stepped over the 250km mark so almost 1/3 of the total distance behind us. Easy walking today but somehow it does not matter how far you go by the end your feet are tingling. We happened to leave Azofra just as the pilgrims from Najera were passing through so the way was busy but still you had your own space. It looks amazing ahead with forty or fifty people spread out over two or three Km 's on the crushed limestone paths. I hope one of the photos posted shows this. If not when we get home and you inevitably sit through the marathon slideshow you will see it then. Met a nutter today - an Austrian who left Logrono at 2am this morning and is stopping ... read more

By the way, I meant to write at the beginning of this blog that we aren´t looking for sponsorship for the Camino. However, 2 of Philippa´s class mates from Ecclesbourne - Matt Tingle and Chris Gascoyne - have just completed a sponsored Tandem ride from London to Paris to raise money for CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young) one of Phil´s charities. So if you do feel like contributing to this vital cause, i´m enclosing the link. It is Monday April 30th - Logroño to Ventosa A wonderful dinner with American Debra in an Italian restaurant in Logroño on Sunday night meant that our start for Ventosa on Monday morning was a little sluggish! We promptly decided to have a 48 hour break from the alcohol. Leaving with the dawn, the walk along Logroño´s quiet streets ... read more