It rained heavily overnight. After deyasuno at the Albergue, we were soon squelching our way through clay mud. Close by a procession of trucks and cars roared by. The only peace was when the Camino veered away from the road into a village. You know it’s going to be a tough 28km when all of the boys are complaining about it being a little uninteresting.
Gone are the vineyards, replaced by fields of fresh green spring shoots that dance in the wind. Today that wind was at our faces, gusting and making it a slog with the muddy path. We stopped in the village of Viloria for a coffee and sustenance. We tasted the small local mandarines, a flavour explosion!
We grinded away through a few more villages, always into the wind, always with the highway close by with its roaring trucks. They are building a new freeway through the region, no doubt the path of The Camino will change once more.
We stopped in Belorado for lunch at the lovely little Albergue and restaurant.
From Belorado it was a slow, long slog to Villafranca Montes De Oca. We passed a little village that had a church built into the cliff face.
As the landscape lost its drama, Mikael and Mads said it reminded them of Denmark, highest point above sea level being Mollehoj at 171m.
Just to remind us what today was about, the last few hundred metres into Villafranca was right next to the highway.
After 28km we were ready for a shower and some down time out of the wind and away from the highway at San Anton Abad Albergue . Now we have a choice to make, a huge day into Burgos or two smaller days. After 120km over the last 4 days, I’m leaning toward two smaller days, but who knows.
We wash clothes and rest before our pilgrim’s dinner in the restaurant. James and I share dinner with Sharon from Victoria, Australia and Brian from Banff, Canada.
As we make our way to bed, we see it is raining again. Thus far we have been lucky to not have to walk in rain. We can only hope we wake to a clear morning.
It’s been a tough few days and talking to others, we are contemplating a shorter day tomorrow. Buenos noches.
The Long Camino 