Sunrise Bound for Hornillos, I woke, still tired after a restless night, and was up by 0630am. We walked down to La Fuente for breakfast and by 7.30am we were out on the road. We had a good conversation with Jen from Lancashire UK. As we left Rabe, we saw …
A 31°C forecast led us to leave Burgos early and walk through the Meseta, passing notable landmarks like a modernist sculpture and Roman crossroads. We met fellow pilgrims, reflected on the Camino’s deeper meaning, and ended our day in Rabe de Calzada, soaking in the historical and scenic surroundings.
We walk in deep time, and slow time — writing ourselves into the Camino story
There was a sign in our Albergue to say ‘last person out should turn off the light switch’. Whoever was first out, around 5.00am, missed the light switch and turned off the entire power. So we woke to darkness and no lights or power. No coffee for us this morning! …
Today, we emerged above the clouds encountering a memorial to victims of the Spanish Civil War. Onward past a Camino oasis in the forest and the timeless alchemy of a bar in Agés to a Camino lesson in patience at Atapuerca where humanity’s deep history lies revealed.
Reminded of the importance of communication, we passed a cave hermitage on our way to a town closely related to the Game of the Goose.
Embarking on a journey across historic Spanish landscapes, we traverse a renovated C11th bridge, reflecting on the walk’s symbolism and past conflicts, including a uniquely settled land dispute near the Cruz de los Valientes. Experiencing local customs and heritage, we reach Belorado, connecting our path to the region’s storied Camino de Santiago and ancient Roman infrastructure, which continues to underpin modern life and community. Our day concludes with rest and a contemplation of the long-lasting importance of roads and networks.
To get to Santo Domingo de la Calzada, we have 21 kms ahead of us so it’s time for an early start. Out the door at 06.30 AM and straight into a climb as we wound past the cave monastery and onward through a rock cutting. A bright yellow arrow …
We started out from Navarrete with its ancient pilgrim hospital, past Roland’s Hut, the site of a David and Goliath battle between Christians and Moslems, and on to Nájera where a bird and a vision decided the fate of a battle, and a French abbot gave us the first Western translation of the Koran to build better understanding between two great faiths.
