9/20 Stage Fifteen: Atapuerca to Burgos

See that little peak at the beginning of the stage? It was a nice 5.5 mile walk up and over. On the other side, we started highway walking. It was road walking until the outer edges of Burgos. Then more sidewalk/road walking to the center of town. Ugly. I walked it all in 2019, but this year, I hopped a ten-minute bus ride through the industrial area into the center of town. There was an alternate route available earlier in the day, but it isn’t well marked & my apps only follow the main camino routes. Those who know me know I can’t find my way out of a paper bag, so I figured the odds for me getting lost were pretty high. Hence, didn’t try the prettier alternate route.

The 5.5 mile mountain walk was worth the day of ugly highway walking. However, nothing was open for coffee between me and the Camino when I left in the morning, so I had to walk over the mountain for my first cup. A great vegetable tortilla with the coffee for breakfast.

Top of the mountain
The path over the mountain.
5.5 mile walk over the mountain for my first cup of coffee.
Walking out of Villalval after breakfast. Greetings to us painted on a residence driveway.
Building art.
Albergue advertising
Follow the arrow!
Road walking for miles

9/19 Stage Fourteen: Villafranca Montes de Oca to Atapuerca

The mountain I was so worried about turned out to be pretty easy. I doubt there’ll be a more gradual ascent on the entire Camino. Still, it was right for me to stop for the night and walk the mountain in the morning. I doubt it would have been so enjoyable with afternoon fatigue.

Nearly sunrise at 0720. Villafranca Montes de Oca.

Over the mountain: I most like the days when the path changes along the way. Grateful for my sturdy boots on all the rocky surfaces. And my poles!