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BURGOS to CARRION DE LOS CONDES <MAP> |
| I had an easy time finding my way out of Burgos, as I had covered the same ground the evening before on my search for a new Credencial. Once out of town, it's a little confusing, as there is a new highway that runs parallel to the N120 (which I rode on). At Citores, I turned left onto a rural road.
Passed through two small, picturesque towns - Yudego and Villandiego. Then I was onto the Meseta. The Meseta is a high plain in the center of Spain. (I don't think the rain stays mainly there, though). The Meseta must be a drag to cover on foot. It's over 60 miles wide. It's very hot in the summer, there is no shade, and the landscape is so empty you must feel as though you're not making much progress. It's great on a bike, though. At Hontanas, I ran into Nuria again - she was riding with Ivan, a very funny guy from Girona. I ran into them again at Castrojeriz where we ate lunch. There's not much of a town there, but there is a nice cafe/bar that makes delicious sandwiches. Nuria speaks great English. I can speak French quite well, and can figure out most Spanish when it's close to French, but otherwise I'm hopeless. Having someone to translate makes things much easier, obviously. I stopped for a Sello at a beautiful cafe/Refugio in Boadilla del Camino. I met a trio of really nice Madrilenos, who called the Refugio in San Juan de Ortega, and found that an American had found my Credencial and would mail it to me upon his return to the United States. (I did indeed get it back. It was found by a Professor from William and Mary College. Thanks, Professor!) At Fromista, I visited the remarkable church of San Martin. Some people consider it over-restored, and others think it's the best example of Romanesque architecture in Spain. Whatever the opinion, it has an enormous number of decorative corbels. Definitely worth the time to visit it. Straight through to Carrion de Los Condes. I've noticed I'm getting sunburned on the left side of my body - a consequence of riding West all day, every day. I had dinner with Ivan and Nuria - and saw the Nikkens - who arrived about 2 hours after I did. Remarkable. They're in their sixties, and have ridden all the way from Holland. The hotel I'm staying in, the Real Monasterio San Zoilo, is attached to a former Benedictine monastery. It's beautiful. They had a locked storage area/hallway where I could keep my bike. Good restaurant, too. 8:46 total time. 5:05 on bike. 104.5km |
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