Atapuerca

Left Villafranca at around 7:30 after a very nice breakfast at the hotel. The camino went steeply up about 600 feet. A somewhat rude way to start the day. Got to see the sunrise through the trees.

It then leveled off for several miles to a nice walk on a sunny morning . We allways try to take shadow pictures every morning.

Three people one shadow. Exciting at the time.

Last year we came across a pine cone sculpture saying " we miss you very much"  well we  took a picture of it and sent it to Del and Kathy who were later saddened when they found we did not make it. Well here it goes Del and Kathy, this we made for you:

Post script: sitting in a restaurant/bar in Atapuerca we are telling someone about making the pine cone "miss you" he takes out his phone and shows us a picture of it. Could it go viral?

Later we descended into the thousand year old monastic village of St. Juan de Ortega. Among other things it houses the remains of Saint Juan de Ortega.

We rested and then proceeded to our next stop Ages.

After our break we walked a flat 2.5 km to Atapuerca. We found a alberque with 8 person rooms and communal showers with separate screened stalls. Odd but it worked. We met a fellow pilgrem, Adrian from France who among other things earns his way on the camino putting on gourmet meals for people from whatever he can find at the local store which in this town isn't much. About $13 pet person .

Adrian and Kate

We did our laundry and proceeded with everyone else to the local watering 

station. Adrian our chef tonight showed up an joined us. He said that he stayed last night in a tiny town of Tosantos. The only place to stay was in a parish albergue next to the church. I said we tried to find it and went on after an failed attempt. Anyway he found it and said he had the most amazing experience there. He said that after dinner they went to a cliff church ( photo below) and had a mass in it conducted by a pilgrem priest. This cliff church is from the 7th century. He said it was an amazing experience. Singing, music, prayers and laughing rounded out the evening. We are so sad to have missed this one. Sorry I couldn't get a closer picture.

OK back to the albergue. There was a French lady soaking her oh so blistered feet, I felt so sorry for her. I can't imagine how it must feel to have to walk on them.

This is another persons foot (Ali ) see the blister on her little toe. Good shoes that fit properly and lots of preparation befor the camino can help.

Before dinner Kate and I walked over to the lacal church wich again must be upwards of 800 years old. The doors were open. We went in over a stone floor unevenly warn by thousands of people over the many centurys. Thie inside was elegantly simple.

Dinner was prepared with few basic basic ingrediants from a tiny local store. A wonderful dinner was prepared for 11 of us with desert. A great evening to a wonderful day. This is the soul of the camino to me .

I am really looking forward to my son Brian meeting us in Burgos tomorrow.

Getting up early torrow and leaving at 6 am tomorrow.

We saw a few great shirts also.

Paul