Day 22 Boadilla to Villacazar de Sirga

Today I walked about 22 km, about 13 miles, no elevation climb today.
Today, I walked with a fellow from England, Allan who has become a nice travel friend. He walks much faster than me, and so we walked together, and my pace was so much better. We walked the 12 miles in about 5 hours, with 2 short breaks. Not bad. I think that the walking slowly has been a mental thing. I can do it physically, but my head was not in it for the last couple of days. I think it's been because I've been walking alone. I'm a head case, a bit tired, but doing well. Tomorrow, I will reach the half way point, 250 miles in 3 weeks, 250 to go. I will be happy to be home on June 20th. 25 days to go.
Yesterday, in boadilla, we were with 2 priests who are doing the camino. They were from Venezuela, and they know PopeFrancis. So neat. The very large church there has no priest, so the priests wanted to celebrate mass, so they got some nuns from a convent to come and open the door. We had mass, and it was beautiful.
Today, when we came into town the church here was open, this church was built in 1300. It is more of the roman style, and the knights Templar were here.
I am having fun, I've found a new walk mate and actually a bunch of people, so all is well.
Below are pics of the churches from yesterday and today. Some pics of the scenery, and there's a pic of Allen. The one of the building has a storks nest up top.
I facetimed just now with John for about an hour, it was so great to spend dome good face time with him. I am really, really, missing him. I do love that man, that's for sure.
Thanks for all of your great Facebook comments everyone, I'm feeling the love.

Day 21 Castrojeriz to Boadella

Km walked 20.2 about 12 miles. Elevation climb 300 meter climb over about 1.5 km. Very steep climb. What a way to start the morning.
Another good day. Very sunny, but cool. I am feeling good.... Although I am a very slow walker. But I get there, eventually.
Not much to report today. I'm making lots of camino friends along the way.
Today, I met a couple from Sarasota. They have walked a couple of times, very nice. Cool thing is that she wrote a book about the way that I have, so what a coincidence.

Long walking day. When I got to the albuergue after paying my 6 euros, I wash clothes, set up my stuff, check for Internet, and then go shower. Then it's. time for relaxing and chatting with the people around. Have some wine, and go to bed around nine.
If there's a church with a mass, I go to mass.
Pictures below are from today... I passed big hay bales like in the movie.

day 20 Hornillas to Castrojeriz

Recap
Days 18 - Burgos rest day
Day 19 Burgos to Hornillos 21 km- 13 miles
Day 20 Hornillas to Castro Jerez 20.2 km about 12 miles elevation climb, about 100 meters, nothing at this point
 I had a wonderful time in Burgos. Went to the cathedral 2 days in a row. One to celebrate my daughter Andrea's birthday. Burgos is a wonderful city, I also visited the museum of human evolution. It was a very  cool museum, and since I had been to Altapuerca, it was nice to tie it all in together.
The last two days have been walking lower hills and looking at wonderful greenery. It's been mostly gravel track, so easier going.
I am doing well. Feet aren't giving me as many problems, toughening up, I guess. My knees have been kind of sore, so I've been keeping my legs up as much as possible. I'm doing well, lots of thinking going on, my heads been in a weird place, I feel like I should be making all kinds of decisions about my life, past, present and future, but nothing much is really being churned out.
Below are pics of the last couple of days...

Day 17 Ages to Burgos

17 km walked, 10.2 miles, then a bus through the city center, 5 km approximately.
Elevation climbed, 150 meters, 450 feet.

This morning, as I left my albuergue, which was wonderful, El Pajar, the sun was shining brightly. The walk was on a country road and then changed to an extremely rocky climb through a hilly pass, back to a country road, and the on the side of a road for many kilometers. The change in the terrain was amazing. From the rocks to the city of Burgos. When I got to the outskirts of burgos, it started to rain AGAIN!! and I came upon a group of pilgrims my age, catching a bus through the city. The city concrete is boring, no meditation going on there, and also hard on the knees.
My feet are doing better, and I am feeling fine, but I am going to take. Rest day here in Burgos. A pilgrim that I met and is on Facebook, is staying here. The hotel is called La Puebla, and I was. To able to get a 1 person room, so I'm paying 50 euros for a 2 person room. Still not bad considering I've been only usually spending about 8 to 10 euros per night. My average spend per day is about 25 euros per day, so not bad for this long trip.
I went over to see the beautiful cathedral here, and it is gorgeous. Attached are some pictures of it. I will be going to mass at 7:30 tonight. Tomorrow, I am going to take a tour.
Today on the iPad, I listened to some Joel Osteeen podcasts and some music I have downloaded. It makes the walking easier somehow, with the brain diversion.
I was feeling homesick yesterday, but since the weather is improving, I felt better today.
I am so fortunate to have this iPad technology, John and I have been talking by FaceTime each day.
So here are some pix of my albuergue last night, the walk today, and the burgos cathedral.

Also, I passed a town called Altapuerca, this is where the earliest human remains ever discovered were found. The book says over 900,000years old!! Wowser is all I gotta say... I can't say that I walked back the 2 km to see the original cave,,, sorry.

Also the statue in the pic is El CID.

Day 16 Belarado to Ages

Today was a different kind of day. After our nice room in Belarado, Yaz decided to take a rest day there. It's a beautiful town, and well worth the time spent there.
I set out to climb 3hills today, but was not at all excited about the 600 meter, 1800 feet climb. When I stopped for coffee after 5 km, I met a woman who was taking a bus over the hills. My feet are feeling good today, and with the hills, I anticipated more problems, so for 1.5 euros, I took the bus. The bus dropped us off on the freeway, about 4 km from the town, so all in all, I still walked about 9 km. 5.4 miles, and bussed about 18 km.
I felt bad about doing this, but as I sat on the bus, it said the temperature was 4 degrees, probably about 40F, and I was glad. I have made a flexible schedule on what I what to accomplish about every 4 days, and I had fallen a bit behind, but with this, I am not behind. Tomorrow, I go to burgos, and will spend 2 nights there. There is a lot of culture there, and the cathedral is supposed to be fabulous, so I want to do some exploring.
I am feeling homesick these last few days, and I think it's cause of the weather.
I've been using the iPad mini for everything, and also as my camera, and it has worked fantastically. I've been able to FaceTime with John everyday, and yesterday I spoke to all three of my kids. There are lots of friendly people around, so all is well.this Florida girl is just tired of the cold. I've got enough clothes, so not to worry, and I am safe and feeling healthy.
Attached are pictures of the bridge at Belarado, it kind of looks like the bridge that Martin sheen lost his backpack on, as well as some pics of a little toen named Tosantos.

Day 15 Grannon to Belarado

17 km walked, about 10.2 mIles. Elevation about 100 meters, 300 feet.

After a cold rainy night in a not very clean albuergue, Yaz and I have settled into a nice pension. A pension is a hotel like room within someone's home. We have 2 nice beds with a bath!! I just took a nice hot bath, the best bath of my life at this moment. My hair is clean. The cost of the room is 21.5 euros each, probably about $30. Worth it. They are also washing our clothes, we put them together for 11 euros. A bit pricey, but worth it.
The walk today was better. I am feeling better. The weather here has been 40 and raining, all the way here. I have been wearing most of my clothes, and thank God I have a good raincoat that not only covers me, but my pack as well. I look like a large elephant in it, but it so does the job. And it helps keep me warm as well.

I think that the things that are getting to me are that the weather has been so rainy and cold, and all of my clothes are dirty. Most of the albuergues don't wash clothes, and with all of this rain, nothing can line dry. Problematic and depressing.
I went to church last night in the very small town of grannon. All of the churches are amazing, all stone carved, even in these small towns. Mass was short, about 30 minutes and the the priest has all of the pilgrims come up to the altar for a blessing.

The town of Belarado is a medium size town. We plan on going to sleep very early, so we can walk a long distance tomorrow. We have a steep climb of 400 meters 1200 feet. And the whole day might end up being 24 km, unless we break it in half. I'm trying to keep a good pace, so that I can get to Santiago, the finish point of my pilgrimage no later than June 18th. My flight is for June 20th.

My feet are better, but they seem to swell up after about 10 km. my toe is healing the best it can.
I am glad that Yaz and I am traveling together, she is from the U.K. But lives in Qatar. We walk at similar paces and get along well. Her birthday is a week later than mine, so we are both strong Gemini women!!
Attached is a pic of church last night and me walking in the rain. Also one of some of the artwork at
The albuergue last night.

Day 14 Azofra to Grannon

Km walked 22.4 miles-13.4.
A good day, walked very far ( for us ) today. But a good day all in all. Cloudy, and cool. Walked past a golf course today and also along  lots of mud. Settled I at the bar, and heading to church. Going for a shorter day tomorrow. Today I am tired, and wondering why I am doing this. Except for my bad feet, feeling good.