Boadilla Beat Down

We weren't hopelessly lost and disoriented on the Meseta today, but close. Yesterday's 31.4 km (19.5 mile) day was backed up with a 28.5 km (17.7 mile) walk and it was hot. These were two of the three longest days of our quest back-to-back, and late in the day we really felt it.

Another beautiful morning leaving Hontanas after espresso and chocolate pastries. (Fist bump to Buen Camino subscriber Matthew Schwarzenbach, a chocolate breakfast expert). We had a long walk to our second breakfast in Castrojeriz, a stunning Meseta town with several iglesias and a castle on the hill above. Ben walked a bit with a lady from Champagne who marveled at his French. Even I could decipher her amazement that he was American (not Canadian) and had no accent.

Up and over a steep alto (hill) and we were on to a midday lunch in Itero la Vega. That's where 52 km of the 60 km we walked in two days caught up with us. The final push for Boadilla del Camino in the sweltering Meseta heat was brutal. This was the closest I've come to not making it to the end of the day's journey. A total beat down.

Our albergue host gave me the key without checking us in, asking me to take a shower and come back for the details. He smiled and said "you stink".

Boadilla continues the feeling of being way out in the middle of nowhere Spain. It was built in a circular fashion around its iglesia, as a fortification. There is a 15th century gothic statue symbolizing its independence, after which they were permitted to publicly torture and hang their own prisoners. What freedom! There was one option in all of Boadilla for dinner and that was the pilgrim's table which we enjoyed fully with more new friends from other corners of the world.

Shorter day tomorrow, and the forecast is clouds and rain. Buen Camino.

Leaving Hontanas. Mornings are best.

Entering San Anton

Iglesia de Santa Maria del Manzano with with Castillo de San Esteban in the distance, entering Castrojeriz

On the way through Castrojeriz, Ben passing Iglesia de (our buddy) Santo Domingo

More French friends for Ben to talk with

Past Castrojeriz we tackled a short but very steep "alto", which I called an "altoid" (curiously strong)

Backside of the altoid, with The Way to San Nicolas in the distance.

Today's Windows XP moment.

Iglesia de Santa Maria de la Asuncion from outside the pilgrim's dinner, Boadilla del Camino

At the pilgrim's table in Boadilla we dined with a German mother and daughter from Hamburg, and three Kiwi buddies from the North Island. Allison, right across from Ben (out of picture) has done the Camino in some form 7 times. She shared she's reluctant to admit it for fear of being branded a "nut job". She's not a nut job, she's a badass.