Day 15

The Spanish don't eat until 7:00 to 7:30, but I was starved.  Went to the restaurant and asked for a menue and she just tapped  her watch and said 7 in Spanish.  Seven thirty I am in bed and mow I am hungry very hungry.  I noticed some sandwiches so I pointed to one and asked for my usual two cokes.  After dinner....such that it was.....I looked for the trail so as I could find it first thing in the morning.  Literally right across the street I would start my climb.  Insurveying the situation I knew that it would be best if I tackled it with some day light. So it was this morning I sat on the bench in front of the Alberque until I could kinda see where I was going.  In starting my climb I knew I had done the right thing in holding back.  It was like climbing through an old creek bed, rocky and stright up.  This lasted for about 200 yards and then I broke out on a fairly good trail but still going stright up.  I was worried about the rain.  The sky looked like it may poor at any time, but in front of me I could see what promised to be blue sky.  I hurried on in that I never had my pack covered with the rain sheld.  I was still climbing up when it started to sprinkle.  I was not concerned in that I could still see what was to be blue sky.  Then it down poored for about twenty minutes.  I was only worried about my bum bag in that is where I had my ipad.  Finially it was doneand i was out of it.  The sun came out and as I walked I dried off.  All was well with the weather and it was all blue sky, and I might add a nice breeze.  I had some orange juice and dry cereal for breakfast and that had been long gone.  Finially about 11:00 I found breakfast/ lunch.  It was a kind of a meat pie fold over baked in the oven kind of thing.  It could of been yesterday's dog but I was good with it, and of course washed it down with the usuall three cokes.  I got over the mountains that I was looking forward to and walked right thru St Jaun de Ortega and carried on down the trail.  I had to start one last climb before I was done with the Spanish mountains and would start the remaining of my pilgrimage on the plains of Spain.  As I climb up ( see photo) it wa like the craters of the moon.  I picked my way very carefully one step at a time and then I seen it.  The cross and pile of stones.  This is where I would toss the stone that I brought all the way from Fish Springs Utah that I had picked up while spotting Sue on her altar 100 miler two years ago.  It never had the drama that I thought it would have.  I just fished the stone out, kissed it, thought about all those I love.....which took a minute, and tossed it on the pile and then moved on.    Later on the road split I could see Burgos off in the distance, but doable and for about two hundred yards I took the trail heading in that direction.  As I looked down in the a valley to my left I could see the young man I met at the monument walking in the other direction.  I knew Burgos would half to be another 4 or5 miles in the distance so I made the decision to turn around and take the outher trail.  I came into a small village about 2:30 every one was in for the sesta.  No one was out, nothing moved.  I found water in the center of the square but that was it.  I filled my bottles and moved on.  I was thinking that this would be the night that I would sleep out side and then as I rounded a corner of the road here was an old bus painted in multi colors advertising an Alberque 400m down the road.  It's been my experiance that the municipal Alberque is the way to go.  They are only 5e and have plenty of room.  The privet ones stuff beds in and way they can get them in that they make money off each bed.  On this one I missed my guess.  I have 16 beds in a room that's no bigger then my master bed room at ,home.  For 16 pilgrims their is one shower, one toilet and one sink.  I am head to head with a guy that's a dead ringer for an Alaska brown bear.  I showered while someone was taking a piss, and some one else was wasing out socks.......yeah I have adjusted since being here......but I have a bed and it was a good day after all.

Lesson learned:  it's further then it looks.