Day 11 Burgos to Castrojeriz

i had a lovely evening last night I went to my usual spot and had paella again is was delicious ,I got talking to an American couple for most of the evening ,got back to my hotel at 2200 hrs and decided to settle up as I was going to be away by 0545, I went up to my room still realling from the shock that they charged me 25 euros for washing 7 items of my clothing,I will accept my  socks took some dealing with that was taking the proverbial!!!!

Alarm went off at 0530 and I had a quick pre shower flay and I was in the taxi back to the start point by 0610

Yesterday was the second  anniversary of my brothers death and I wanted to place a stone for him in his memory when I hit the 200 mile point, which was only 3 miles away,he is one of the reasons I am doing the walk.

I set my gps to zero so I would know the exact point to stop .The sun was just coming up in Rabe de las Calzada.

I took this picture on the way out of the village for my brother Malcolm as he is a cat lover and I would not wish him to feel left out with the dog on a blog,I must say you are in for a treat with the dog on a blog today.

Before long I was on a track climbing away from Calzadas.

The views were lovely and I really felt I had the The Camino to myself,as so often on The Camino I could hear a cuckoo .It was not long until my gps told me I had 100yds to go until I hit the 200 mile point.When the gps hit the 3 mile point I stopped placed the stone on the wall.

I started to play Ballero by Dame Kiri de Kanawa on my iPod which was one of Marks favourite pieces of music and I sat  on the wall and just looked at the views and thought of him,where I had stopped was one of the most beautiful parts of The Camino I had seen.

I  just burst into tears thinking of him, I had not been able to grieve for him or really accept that he was gone and in that wonderful moment that no church or cathedral could have given me, out there on The Camino, I knew he was gone and was safe.It was one of the finest moments of my life 

As I left and headed off to Hornillos del Camino I knew the reason why I had come on this walk and I had found it,if my Camino stops tomorrow I do not mind because anything from here on is a bonus and nothing can match what I had just experienced.As I entered Hornillos it sunk in about the 200 miles I punched the air and I knew something had changed about me,The Ashes were within my grasp!!!'

As soon as I left Hornillos I started to climb.

The countryside as always was breathtaking.

I decided to stop for a cup of tea and some toast at San Bol at a really lovely Albergue,it is just of The Camino and I am sure featured in the film The Way

I left feeling much refreshed it was not long until I bumped into Seve Ballesteros .

I soon started to drop down towards Hontanas, it really looked a beautiful place !I Must be honest my feet were beginning to really ache so I decided to stop for a beer.

I now had six  miles to cover  through beautiful open country I have say today has been special the views were superb,I was listening to classical music as I just strolled on,it felt wonderful.

Sadly it all came to an end too quickly and I was back onto tarmac heading towards Castrojeriz,I could  see in the distance the ruins of the convent at San Anton.

As I left I thought to myself I wonder what had been this convents undoing.It was not long before Castrojeric came into sight and I could see the ruins of this imposing castle above the town.

By this time I had been walking for six hours and my feet were really beginning to hurt and my left hip was giving me messages that I did not want to hear,I was relieved to turn into Castrojeriz,another beautiful church came into view.

Kept you waiting long enough it is time for the dog on a blog what a little cracker and so friendly.

I shall give you just one more for being so patient.

This really is a lovely town I am staying in,as I went past the church I saw this,be warned all who sin.

Had to stop for a beer on the way in and put my aching painful trotters up.

Booked into hotel which is very nice indeed met up with Grace and Joe a lovely Australian couple who are on holiday for 3 months, like RIchie and Sharon, When I told Joe about The Camino Ashes he felt we should win,take note RIchie.

Today has been a great day for me,I was really sorry to leave Burgos,I loved the place, how could I feel alone in such a vibrant place.

I really enjoyed the walking it was a day I will never forget.

There is doubt that my new strategy is working, I was in Castrojeriz by 1330, I beat the sun and I really felt that all the training that I had done on the South Downs with Jeremy and the team was paying off.

My left trotter still hurts ,I am learning to Iive with it .

If I go over five miles without a drink I can feel Jeremy breathing down my neck.

The team is very much still in business.

Stats for today

Walked 19 miles plus 8 yesterday

Speed 3.1 mph

Time 6 .48 plus 2.45 yesterday

Distance covered 214

26 miles from halfway.

0530 start again tomorrow.

Team UKs blog has had over 2300 hits Jeremy and I think it is the blog for a dog that is doing it so I will keep them coming .

 

 

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