Hontanas

The signage on the Camino on the way out of Burgos is really bad.  Perhaps having got you there the city tradespeople don't want you to go!  But after only one or two minor deviations I escaped.

As I walked up a fog descended - literally - and a watery sunrise penetrated the gloom.

It was 12km to Tardajos, the first place outside the city; and I caught George up just as we reached it.  The obvious bar was full of pilgrims, and there was a queue - but fifty yards away was another one full of locals but happy to do us coffees and breakfast things.

Another couple of km to Rabé de la Calzadas where there was a small wayside chapel, and where a religious sister was dispensing pilgrims' blessings and medals.  I noticed on the leaflet she provided that this is a ministry of the order based at the chapel in the Rue de Bac in Paris, where lie the relics of Ste Louise de Marillac, co-founder of the SVP, after whom Louise was named.  And that brought memories of going with Louise to find the chapel in Paris, and of her finding a place to sit in the sun amid the bustling visitors and a hot Paris day, and taking a few moments of calm.  Outside the chapel it was a happy memory; writing about it now brings tears.  Strange...

And now we're in the Meseta, the section of the Camino dominated by large, flat fields, heat, and sparse population. There are towns, but they are fewer and further apart - and one today on which I was somewhat relying for a cooling drink didn't have any sort of bar!  It has a certain appeal; but it's not an easy stretch.

31km total today: the longest so far, and with temperatures reaching over 30°.   I definitely need full water bottles for this section!