Day 12, started early as usual. This day, Pip was going all the way to Burgos. 35.7 km or 22.1 miles, a very hilly section of the Camino. There was a bit of fog as we started in the dark and you could only see a few feet in front of you. The first 10 km was a series of ups and down hills with a total ascent of 600 ft. As it was becoming light, we entered San Juan de Ortega. San Juan was a disciple of Santo Domingo and like his mentor became known for his great works to serve the pilgrims to Santiago.
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| San Juan--Bar, Albergue and Church |
A short walk we stopped in a village called Ages for some café sin leche and snack. We looked at the guidebook and had a visitor. He looked like he was not enjoying the hot weather.
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| Visitor not enjoying the heat |
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| Checking the distance |
The next series of hills was over a desolate place. To the left was an army training range lined with barded wire. On top of the hill was a place where pilgrims must have spent time, for there were several arrangements of rocks in a spiral maze and a heart shape. I'm not sure what significance this place was.
After reaching the top, it was a long slow descent. A lot of open country.
Just before we reached the city limits of Burgos, we had some options on how to walk into the city. We were wanting to walk an alternate route that takes you alongside a small river (rio Arlanzon). However, the markings were confusing and we ended up on the route that took us downtown and the industrial side of Burgos, all concrete! As we walked, the day was wearing down as were we, we passed by several factories including Firestone. It was shift change and we walked with people getting off from work. They did not seem to notice us as I guess pilgrims are an everyday occurrence. From the looks of the workers, it was obvious now why a lot of the villages didn't have children in them. The younger people have moved to the cities for work, leaving only the older people in the villages. I figure as these people die out, some of those small villages will go away. But, some of them have survived for hundreds of years before now.
Finally made Burgos, couldn't find a bed in an albergue, so Pip, paid for a hotel room for us to stay. Doll and Pip went to get Pip transportation home and when they were there, Doll made the decision to go back home to Ireland. She had done the last 100 km of the Camino before and had a Compestella. This was the last night that we would see each other. Tomorrow, I'd be walking alone.
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| Catherdral at Burgos |
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