April 29 - Day 16

Day 16 - Burgos to Hornillos de Camino- 21 km

Today we left Burgos behind. But it took a while. Lots of walking just to get out of the city.

The next town was 11 km along. Stopped there for coffee. Sunday morning at 9:45, the barkeep was pouring shots for the regulars. In Spain the bars are also cafes, works for us. I wasn’t ready for a shot though.

After our break we had a long uphill journey followed by a shorter down segment. Then we arrived at the destination for the day. Our albergue had a “completo” sign, but we were wise enough to book ahead. This is a long weekend in Spain, so vacancies are rare, especially in small towns like this. I talked to someone in Burgos this morning. He said he will have to walk 31 km to get a bed.

And the weather cooperated for us today. The forecast called for rain but we only had a few drops. We could see rain clouds all around us but missed it completely. Shortly after we were indoors, though, there was a great deal of rain and hail. Some of our friends got caught. Good thing for rain gear.

We went for a chilly walk this evening and found a restaurant that was excellent - The Green Tree! Run by an Irish family, the food and atmosphere were wonderful. After dinner, a lady played guitar and sang. She was singing in Spanish, but we recognized many of the songs - Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah, Billy Joel, and many others.

Today’s lesson: look for signs of encouragement and inspiration. On a sign today: “when you feel like quitting you’re probably making progress.” On another: “get ready, observe, and listen.”

Cafe con leche 1.4€

Albergue 10€

Cerveza 1€

Supper and Sangria 15€