Day 10 San Juan de Ortega to Burgos

Woke up at three this morning with shocking nervous indigestion not sure if it was because I realised I was on my own or I had a potato dish with onions garlic and bits of Choritzo sticking out of it washed down with three acidic beers before bed.

Did not get back to sleep so got up at 0515 got ready and prepared my trotters for another's days onslaught.

Checked out of Bates Motel at 6 am glad to be out of the place ,as I walked away I looked over my shoulder, I am sure I saw a curtain blow open and there was a woman in a rocking chair,it was dawn so it could have been a trick of the light.

I headed off towards Ages to get back on The Camino the sun was coming up and the birds were in full song it really was beautiful.

For once I did not pass by the church and was soon out of this village,it was to be walking on the road for two miles to Atapuerca.There were some ancient stones to my left .

Fields full of poppies and wild flowers.

I past through the village and started to climb up Monagrande.

The going under foot was the hardest I have experienced so far.

Eventually as I approached the top I saw a cross with a mound of stones around its base,placed by passing pilgrims of old.

So I decided to place a stone in Grants memory, I said a few words and had a vision of his beaming face when he said make sure I do not over do  it on The Camino,strange that those were the last words I ever heard him say,I think he had my measure,if only I had listened.I walked away thinking I had done the right thing bless him another tearful moment for me on my journey, soon I came across this strange circle of stones.

I have noticed on many occasions along the way people have discarded shoes rucksacks and clothing when they have realised they have got too much kit.

I have to say the views were stunning and at last the sun was shining as I started to descend to Villalval.

I came upon a rather nice Auberge and decided to buy my lunch.

For the last two days I have had a banana and some nuts,I really feel I am turning ,I keep eyeing up my spare shoelace in my rucksack ,I have a strong desire to tie knots in it as I have an overwhelming desire to flay myself and I am not happy unless I am wearing my sandals.

I am a little sad to note from your comments that the dogs are becoming more popular than me and they are hogging all the limelight.Having said that what is a blog without a dog or two.

I was noticing that the villages were changing I was not passing through the heart as we had done in the past.

It was not long before I walked along side Burgos airport runway and I started to think of Jeremy flying back, I could not help getting emotional I kept thinking about all the training on The South Downs we had done all the laughs we had and all the planning we had done for this epic trip,it just seemed so unfair.Jeremy told me yesterday that he placed his stone, which he bought from his farm,under a tree at Santo Domingo de la Calzada in memory of his parents at the place where his Camino ended after 151 miles,I thought to myself I wonder where I will place my stones,it was then that I made my mind up I am going to go for it and give it my best shot.I can only give it my best  and I feel I owe it to the both of us,to have a go.I phoned Jeremy and told him.Strangely I feel it will be the loneliness that will get me not the  walk. I am not out of the woods as yet I will see how I go the next few days.

Take a rest when ever where ever.

Soon I started to enter the suburbs of Burgos and they went on.

And on

And on

To give you an idea how long they went on for I was craving to see vines again.

Churches at last 

Soon I entered the old city 

I knew my hotel was near a Cathedral but I was not expecting to see this 

.

It was absolutely stunning ,it is where El CId is buried and I hope to look round it tomorrow on my day off.I found my hotel which is delightful

This is a really beautiful city.

I checked in had a shower and put on some proper clothing ,that was clean, then went down to the square and had some lunch I felt like a king,it felt so nice just to relax and be normal.

Tomorrow I am having a day off and will recharge my batteries and give my feet a rest.

Now I am on my own I have decided to have a change of tactics ,no matter what the dtstance I am going to walk the next day  I intend to get up at 0530 and be on the road by 0600 to give me longer when I arrive ay my destination to recharge my batteries and sort my feet out.

Stats for today 

Walked 16 miles.

Average speed 3 mph

Total distance walked 187 miles

Distance to go 295.

Total walking time 65 hours 

Thank you all for the lovely emails of encouragement they really do help

,