Day 12, Tuesday, September 3rd, 2019: Castildelgado to Villafranca - Montes de Oca
We decided to have breakfast at the Albergue and so did all of our friends from dinner! A much less talkative group as we all contemplated the start of another day on The Camino and the challenges ahead. We had coffee, orange juice, and toast with ham and butter, and said our goodbyes, each wishing another “Buen Camino!”
It was about 46 degree F on our departure around 7am, which made for a very chilly start to the day, which I appreciated! But not for long as the walking was easier after the first uphill and we made great time!
It was about 6.5 miles to our coffee stop in Belorado and we enjoyed the warming morning and the fact that we were just about half-way to our destination. We said “Buen Camino” to friends we saw along the way
The rest of the morning trek was unremarkable as we travelled up, mostly gently, save the next to last mile. We arrived Villafranca- Montes de Oca and found our hotel, San Anton Abad, up a big hill next to the cathedral. It was a beautiful hotel!
As Terri got a a nice soak in a bathtub that actually had a drain plug, I went to get a couple beers and ran into the two couples from Ireland again! Two lunches in a row! We chatted for a bit and I learned they were planning to walk to San Juan de Ortega this afternoon. THAT was an ambitious trek as the road to San Juan de Ortega was pretty much straight up for 4-6 kilometers! And in the mid-day sun. I wished them Buen Camino and said a little prayer they would make out okay.
We had the pilgrim menu for lunch around 2 and dinner around 7. We ran into our friend from Germany, Chris, whom we had last had dinner with in Orisson! He had been traveling since Orisson with a few other young people and had gotten separated today. He was hopeful they would get back together again. He was greatly enjoying his Camino! He had quit his job and was walking the Camino to find a path forward.
After dinner, it was another early bedtime in a comfortable and quiet space we had all to ourselves.
Today’s “Camino Lesson:” Pray for each other. We all could use it!
Another sunny day on The Camino!
The morning light is amazing on the massive stack of hay!
This town was the birthplace of Saint Dominic
Beautiful chapel In Belorado
Buen Provecho!
The hotel and the chapel in Villafranca-Montes de Oca
