I was in no hurry to start walking towards León – I had my room booked and it looked to be a slightly cooler and more comfortable walking day. I had a good breakfast, chatted to some French cyclists in French-Spanglish and then off I went. Mansilla isn’t big, and soon I was at the … More CF21 Day 9 – Mansilla to León
This morning I woke up early and went outside to look at the stars seeing as I was in a place with so little light pollution. It was actually so early I saw Laura leave! I know I keep saying I won’t walk in the dark, but there and then I could absolutely see why … More CF21 Day 8 – Burgo Ranero to Mansilla de las Mulas
My little bed in my little room in my little hostal Bastide was lovely, so I woke up refreshed and took my time getting ready. When I was almost done, there were unmistakeable coffee making noises downstairs, so I ended up with the breakfast of champion pilgrims, a café con leche and a piece of … More CF21 Day 7 – Sahagún to Burgo Ranero
As we woke up in our cubbyholes, we realised that the main door to the bar downstairs, and the exit, was closed. Were we locked in? … but earlier pilgrims had made it out… Or had they? Turns out the bar/café doesn’t open until 7, and there is a second door leading to a corridor … More CF21 Day 6 – Ledigos to Sahagún
This is the tough one. The one we have all been pondering – with 17 kms of senda with no services such as bars, shops, toilets, do you start in Carrion and get the stretch done with fresh legs, and then get a bed in tiny Calzadilla and spend the rest of the afternoon in … More CF21 Day 5 – Carrión to Ledigos
Shortly after leaving Boadilla the camino turns into a path following the canal. In the early morning it was shrouded in fog with ghost trees barely visible on the opposite side. We crunched along until Fromista, where we had second breakfast to sustain us on the hot, dusty and straight senda path towards Carrión. There … More CF21 Day 4 – Boadilla to Carrión
Leaving Castrojeriz there is nothing else for it than to go up and over that hill. You can see it for miles before you get there, and the sign warning you about the 12% incline is not adding to the enthusiasm. The first time I walked over it I wasn’t aware it was coming and … More CF21 Day 3 – Castrojeriz to Boadilla
My first morning actually on the camino started at a reasonable time, and the hospitalero at the Sol a Sol was already serving breakfast downstairs. Young and not so young Lindas and the Dutch lady Linda was walking with, gathered for an early feast of mini croissant, toast, butter, jam and marmelade, plus fruit, nuts, … More CF21 Day 2 – Hornillos to Castrojeriz
Yesterday I woke up at an airport hotel and took a prebooked taxi to the airport to make sure I wouldn’t miss my flight to Madrid with all the extra checks, controls, codes etc. I even paid for fast-track through security, which I think most of the passengers had done… So I got there hours … More Burgos – day 0
I know, I know. It covers my conundrum perfectly though. I have been mulling it over for ages now, pros and cons and hopes and dreams and worries and vaccines and all the new paperwork and flights constantly being changed, cancelled and refunded. I would say I have been in two minds, but it’s more … More Should I stay or should I go?
Somewhere Slowly 