Villacazar de Sirga to Calzadilla de la Cueza - May 25

Blog Uploaded May 25th - only 1 pic due to slow internet.

 

Today was another wonderfully sunny day, nice temp for walking not so much for sitting outside. Last. Isn't I went to sleep to the sounds of a street party, as the town was having a fiesta honouring their Patron Saint. I was tired enough that it didn't keep me awake and safely tucked into my upper bunk I. My sleeping bag topped with a blanket, I had a nice sleep.

This morning's treat was boiled eggs! At the Albergues which provide breakfast the usual fare is bread and jam and coffee and that is about it. At this municipal Albergue the Hospitalaro provided hard boiled eggs and juice - a much better option.

After a brisk 6 km walk I was in Carrion de Los Condes and my breakfast stop. I had a coffee and a pastry and then finished off the half of yesterday's bocadilla that I had saved. The spot I stopped in doubled as the bus stop and advertised bus service to Leon leaving at 11:30. Before long there were a few pilgrims wandering in who planned to bus forward. We all had a great chat - these were ladies I had spent time with at various of the Albergues enroute.

The town, population 2,200 was a reasonably size but did not take too long to walk through.

The next section was 17 km through the countryside and by 10:00 I had left the town and was walking the long country road westward.

It was really a nice day to walk such a stretch. To the north, we could see the siloette of the mountains to the north, but mostly it was just the lonely tree lined road and fields (no houses).

There were a couple of rest stops, treed areas with picnic tables, but no water fountains and no toilets.

I arrived at the small village of Calzadilla de la Cueza at around 2:00 and checked into the Municipal Albergue which had -guess what! - a swimming pool! That said, the only thing it was good for was as a cold foot bath as it was unheated. Good if your feet were hurting as it numbed them in about 30 seconds.

 

I wandered around town for a bit (took about 3 minutes to walk all the streets), and then ended up at the town Cafe//Bar/Restaurant chatting with other pilgrims.

 

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Puente de Itero (San Nicolas) to Villalcazar de Sirga - May 24

Breakfast was at 6:30 and we were grateful for the coffee, bread and jam before setting off. I was very impressed with the 3 men (did I mention they wouldn't let us help with dishes after dinner?). They bid us each farewell with a besso (kiss) on each cheek and beamed at us proud that we were setting off and continuing our journey.

The morning was miles of beautiful fields and fluffy white clouds. The weather was much the same as yesterday, but with a bit less sun.

I had my morning bocadilla at Boadilla del Camino and carried on with thoughts of trying to get as far today as I did yesterday.

The town is known for it's Dovecotes. Not sure if they still have doves living there but I saw this more modern version a bit farther down the street.

I am fascinated by the irrigation systems they have here on the Meseta. We walked along the Norde Canal de Castilla, which directed the waters from the mountains to the north to the grain fields of the Meseta.

The major town (the overnight stop for Pilgrims keeping a 20 km daily distance) was Formista. It was pretty sleepy at 10:30 on Sunday morning. I decided to press ahead after stopping for a drink of KAS Limon (a cross between go rite and lemonade). I had only gone a distance of 15 km and so had lots of steam left.

The next several hours were pretty much on a path paralleling the highway to Carrion de Los Condes. It was pretty easy walking and the time passed quickly as I listened to my iPod. There was a tiny village every 5 km or so and so was pleasant walking,

Notice the trees in this plaza. It is something I have seen a fair bit Since Sain Jean and first saw on my last Camino at Zamora. The branches are cut short and joined with the tree next so as to provide ample shade in summer. I believe these trees must be late budding. Most had only 8 or so inches of growth and leaves. It would be great to see what they look like once they have grown through the summer.

Ancient Pilgrim and Modern Pilgrim

Do you see the little dog in the wagon?

After another 15 km I decided to quit for the day and stay at Villacazar de Sirga, a village of about 600 folks. I had travelled 28.6 km and it was the second long day in a row and my feet were starting to hurt. Best to relax and catch up on my blogs!

I have checked into the Municipal Albergue, which is a donativo (no dinner or breakfast though). After showering and washing clothes, I chatted briefly with Mike from Michigan, who is the Hospitalaro, before high tailing it to the bar to find food and WIFI.

We will see how far I go tomorrow. I probably shouldn't push it. I don't want to do in my feet at this late stage

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