It was obvious last night that despite her bravest efforts to keep going, D1 needed to stop walking and seek medical help. In the morning D2 and I decided to walk to Fromista while the two hobblers took a taxi.

When I opened the door from the dormitory to the communal area in the morning I was hit by the smell of Voltaren and Pilgrims Unction. Everywhere I looked pilgrims were applying creams, blister pads, bandaids and tape to their battered feet. Unfortunately D1’s feet weren’t going to be fixed by cream and blister pads.

After a lovely 6km walk, mostly along a canal and not a hill in sight,

 

and delicious huevos con jamón for breakfast

we were soon on the train to León

and my birthday present, a stay at the León Parador.

D1 rested while D2 and shopped for chicken salad and wine for dinner in our room. Tomorrow the two hobblers are off to the medical centre.

A pilgrim is grateful. We are all grateful to be in such a beautiful hotel in León.

After 3 days rest in Burgos we had an early morning start from Castrojeriz where we’d bussed to the evening before. 

It was a clear, crisp morning, the road was flat and Jess’s feet weren’t too bad

“Ha-ha”, said Camino. “It’s your birthday isn’t it? 63 are you? Take this!”

And there was no happy dance, that track up the hill was ours, and it went up and around, and up and around and up and around quite a bit more!

” Take that Camino! I maybe 63, and D1 may have sore feet, but we can still climb your hills!”

 

Of course what goes up must come down, D1 did the Camino shuffle zigzag style. As you can see there is not much opportunity for comfort stops but eventually we found a mound of earth and continued on much relieved.

Quote of the day, 5 minutes down the road,  from D1 “I wish I still had the euphoria of having just done a wee!”

After lunch I was feeling energetic so zoomed off ahead while D2 stayed with D1 and an American pilgrim who has terrible blisters. The road was long and at times I thought the church spire ahead was a mirage!

I finally made it to our albergue, what a magical place for me to spend the rest of my birthday. The walking wounded finally hobbled into the albergue. I don’t think D1 will be walking anywhere else soon

A pleasant afternoon have a couple of beers, and delicious beef stew for dinner.

A pilgrim is grateful. I am grateful for this birthday, for my good health and wishes from family and friends.

We already had a rest day planned, and with D1’s foot not the best we decided to stay another day, then catch a bus to put us back on track.

We had a lovely hotel room with a bath, only problem the 3G was rubbish and the wifi weak so I didn’t get a chance to blog much.

Burgos is a beautiful city, the cathedral magnificent and we had a great time.

We ate and drank

 

 

 

explored

I found a bar and ate tapas and watched the MotoGP

A pilgrim is grateful. We were grateful for the time to explore such a beautiful city.

Burgos, here we come! Not a great start, uphill over big boulders!

And rain ahead!

 

 

This uphill track had been visible in the distance for some time. Happy dance time! So pleased to see the track head around the corner.

With rain still threatening we reached breakfast!

A smile on the way out of town

 

D1 and I (#notrealpilgrims) were not feeling great so took the donkey (bus) through the industrial area of Burgos, and D2 walked. Dummy spit threatened when D2 called while we were walking from the bus station to the hotel to say she was already there, but a beer and morcilla in front of the cathedral made everything right!

 

Medieval chick pea soup for tea

And we made ourselves right at home!

A pilgrim is grateful. D2 was grateful for the bath in our hotel room!