Before I share our glorious day of walking, I must inform you of last night’s sleep – or more accurately, attempted sleep!
We were staying in the same very nice hotel in Burgos where Rosemary and I stayed last year. The plan was always that Rosemary & Laura would take a single bed each and I would sleep on the couch in the little living-room like area – the rationale being to keep the sisters together and that having just completed a trans-Atlantic flight I could likely sleep anywhere (which is actually generally true, trans-Atlantic flight or not). Anyway, as it turned out, there were 2 chairs rather than a couch. Hmm…the cushion configuration was 2 seat cushions about 18″ x 30″ each and 2 back cushions about 18″ x 8″ each. I put them on the hardwood (aka slippery) floor in the order I took them off – back, seat, seat, back – and proceeded to then place the “pillow ” ( it was a satin decorator pillow) on the first smaller cushion, put my sleeping bag on top of it all and lie down. First my waist was right at the join of the 2 seat cushions so I either did a plank or thumped to the ground every time I moved. Next the satin pillow kept shooting off the back pillow and when I reached for that the back pillow went flying and my head hit the floor. This went on for a while (until 1:00am actually) when I finally figured out the whole contraption needed to be anchored so I pushed it all down so the cushion by my feet was against the wall. This helped for a bit, but my head pillow stilll kept flying and also because the cushions were so narrow I kept “falling” the 4″ down out of bed. Around 4:00am I figured out that I should put both the smaller cushions at the feet end thereby enabling my body and head to rely principally on the 2 larger cushions. I was killing myself laughing about how poorly I was solving this relatively simple puzzle. I finally dozed off around 4:45. Laura got a cramp in her calf at 5:00!!
Anyways, with very little sleep I set off this morning for a beautiful walk – one of my favourites from last year and just as glorious in its repeat. The weather was warm and sunny – not a cloud in the sky. The walk itself was relatively short at only 21km and generally pretty easy – a nice way to start, especially as I’m with walkers who are 10 days more fit than I. We enjoyed the walk out of Burgos which is generally through their very lovely university area and ended the day with the final 10km on the Mesata. I’ve reread what I wrote last year about the Mesata and I feel the same – the high arrid plain with its crops and wildflowers is spectacular – beautiful, peaceful and harmonious.
We are back at the same albergue in Hornillos where Rosemary and I stayed last year. It too is just as lovely and I feel the same peace and happiness sitting here in their courtyard as I did last year.
We have also made some new friends sitting here in the courtyard (Rosemary was complaining that they hadn’t yet made any friends so it’s especially nice). Two couples – one from the UK and one from the US – good for them managing to do this together!!! Also Patty from Toronto who is around our age and taking an adult gap year.
A few pictures follow. The one of the cat is actually from last year in Hornillos but it’s one of my favourites so I figured I could slip it in.
As we travel down the road to Bethlehem (Santiago), we notice how weighted down we are with items that need not make the trip. Like pack rats we bring too much with us – feelings that are heavy and unforgiving; thoughts about our own shortcomings we would like to change; anxiety about the future; an attachment to things and possessions; resentments and hurts that have grown through the months. Sometimes we don’t make much progress – weighted down as we are with this heavy load. Enable us to lift our burdens and find a way to travel lighter.
Camino 2017 - the sequel 