Day 14 - San Juan de Ortega to Burgos (26km)

It was another fresh start to the day, another walk under blue sky and into a stiff, cold breeze. It gave the morning the feel of an English spring and the countryside too reminded me of home; it was very 'New Forest' with its yellow gorse and barren, grassy slopes grazed by cattle clanging their bells. By the time we stopped at the first village for breakfast though, we were definitely back in Spain: small timber framed cottages, decorated, colourful and rickety and set around a tiny central green with massive mill stone and ancient farming paraphernalia.

The road to Burgos

Our destination today was Burgos - which I am told is excellent to visit - and a day's rest. For a while we could see it in the distance from the high ground along which we walked but we soon dropped down and walked the roads and villages among the shallow valleys between us and the city. We eventually began to see the initial signs of a modern conurbation - the bridge over the ring road, scattered buildings and a small suburban airport - and before long we were in the outskirts of the city but still with two hours of walking to reach the centre. Rather than follow the Camino alongside the main road into Burgos we took a parallel route through wood and parkland and along a small river; a little longer but quieter and less exhausting than a noisy roadside walk.

                         

After a well earned rest in a good hotel - I am spoiling myself here in Burgos - it was out on the town with my fellow walkers and other faces, old and new, but all with a common bond and each expressing the wonder of the camaraderie of the Camino. Oh, and each a little the worse for wear by the time we left....