Camino de Santiago: September-October, 2012: 2012-09-19 Wednesday

2012-09-19 Wednesday

Agés / Burgos

Camino day 12, We left the Hostal at 0740, after eating breakfast there. We had to put the pack covers for the first time, it rained a bit during the night, and it was still threatening to rain. It was windy and cold. We had to walk quickly to keep ourselves warm.

One hour later, we started the climb of the only mountain of the day, the Atapuerca Sierra, 1080 meters, (3,543 ft,) high. The net climb was a little over 100 meters, but it was steep and all rocks, making it a difficult ascend. We had to slow down to have better footing and to avoid sweating under our windbreakers; sweating with this cold wind is not good. At the very top there is a cross and we stopped for pictures, before starting the steep downhill. When we got to the flatter terrain we had to pick up the pace again, to fight the cold.

Erico, on top of Atapuerca Sierra

View from Atapuerca Sierra

We passed two or three villages with no bars, it was only in Orbaneja, 11 Km from San Juan, that we found an open bar. I had a hot chocolate with a pastry. We took a half hour break, longer than usual, because Nancy was complaining that her knee was hurting. When I got up from the chair, to resume walking, I felt a sharp pain on the muscle in front of the leg of my left leg. It's exactly the same type of injury that I had in my right leg back in July. I guess I injured myself when going up and down the rocky hill.

Erico and a mural on the Camino

It was a struggle to continue walking, Nancy and I were both limping. Several people had recommend that when we get to Burgos's suburbs, we take a bus to downtown; because the walking route goes along roadways with lots of truck traffic and no shoulder or sidewalk. With our injuries, this became a done deal. When we got to the suburban area, about 5Km from the town center, we jumped into a local bus.

We got off at the final stop, near the old city center ("casco viejo") and we walked for more than 20 minutes, going all the way to the Cathedral, before finally finding our hotel, it was just a couple of blocks from where the bus dropped us of… At least now we know how to get to the Cathedral!

Paulo, Terry and Nancy walking on Plaza Mayor, Burgos

We decided to take the day off tomorrow to recuperate from our injuries and rest our tired muscles.

We checked into our hostel, Hostal Lar; it is spartan, clean, and centrally located. Very friendly and helpful innkeeper, by the way. We quickly showered and went out to eat at one of the restaurants recommended by the innkeeper, where we had an excellent lunch. When we returned to the hostel, I asked the innkeeper to recommend a physical therapist, and he indicated two nearby clinics. I called them, and one had an opening for today at 1600. I went there and did a one hour session with deep tissue massage, electro massage, and ultrasound. I scheduled another session for tomorrow.

Lunch: First course - a fancy and tasteful salad

Nancy also wanted to have a massage, and I scheduled a session for her tomorrow at the same time as mine. We went out for a walk in the old town center at around 1900, but quickly returned to the hotel, it was windy and cold.