Carrion de Los Condes to Calzadilla de la Cueza This has been the toughest day mentally of the Camino so far for various reasons, and I have had to draw on some of my 'reserves'. How can I make a 17km walk in a virtually straight line sound interesting? I even got excited when there was a little tiny turn in the road direction! This is the part of the Camino which many peregrinos find most challenging. There is no shade and no water for the entire day and you nee...

Boadillo to Carrion de Los Condes At 7.15am it is completely dark with only the stars and a quarter moon to offer a twinkling light on the village streets. So I was glad to have packed my head torch to seek out the way markers at this early hour. As the deep red sky opened a new day, the forest trees provided a perfect silhouette to provide a scene you can only get at this time of day. Walking along the waterway and listening to the rustling of trees and birdsong...

Castrojeriz to Boadillo "It's another 20K day!" On most days, this is a sensible length walk which keeps my body happy and ready to do it all over again on the following day. In the heat of the Meseta particularly, it's best to complete the 20k before mid afternoon when the sun is at its strongest. It is a long slog up to the plateau of the Meseta from Castrojeriz but great views over the landscape as the sun rises.The path stretches out way into the distance and...

Hornillos to Castrojeriz There is nil chance of rain and a maximum expected temperature today of 79 degrees. So it's good to get through two or three miles before the sun rises over the Meseta, I really like walking in this environment which at times reminds me of Yorkshire with the dry stone walls enclosing one side of the path. There are the ubiquitous wind turbines in the fields but the soil is stony and not well suited for some type of crops. Just before I re...

Burgos to Hornillos del Camino I said a sad goodbye to Ed and Carol over breakfast and Alan, Sherry, Margita and I headed out to the west of Burgos. Initially past a maximum security prison and then through smaller towns with a welcome bar every now and then. Alan and Sherry are kindhearted and generous travellers and I was amazed to learn in Burgos that Alan will be 75 next birthday. If ever there was an advert for not being too old to take on new adventures,...