Day 11 - Villafranca Montes de Oca to Burgos (38 km) - Part One

As you see, I covered a lot of ground today, and in more ways than one. I still can't quite get my head around it and, as a writer I like to see a natural arc in my story, but it eludes me today. It was a day in three parts.

Part One - Villafranca to St Juan de Ortega (12 km)

What a delightful morning. I set off around 8am expecting a tough 12 km climb to St Juan. But the guide books were a little misleading. Yes we were climbing - a dozen or more pilgrims started their day around the same time as me - but there were just three short steep ascents, each followed by a long leisurely interlude where the path was flat or gently descending.

Again clear sunny skies, but cold for the first hour or so - and my gloves got their first outing. Colder because we were already at 900m at the start, at times reaching 1,100m, and because we were mostly walking through dense green forest. Quite a contrast from previous days, and from what was to come.

I made good time arriving at St Juan by 10.30 and enjoyed a leisurely coffee break, shoes and socks off and a good stretch. My post-it note for the day was to possibly make Burgos, a 38 km walk, if I was up to the challenge.

St Juan is a peaceful village of just 20 locals, the beautiful church the centerpiece.

So a peaceful start to a peaceful day ahead, at least until I neared Burgos, or so I thought. The Camino is full of surprises.

Part Two coming. But first some photos. J x