2013-09-06 On the way to Burgos

San Juan de Ortega This morning, I put the light on at 06:00 AM in the room in order not to forget anything. It was mostly dark there. Kai and I left at 06.45 AM San Juan de Ortega, without having breakfast and without having showered. We left in our dirty clothes. We only have clean socks on. After 3 km hiking through a forest we reached the village of Ages. Here, we had our breakfast in a small bar with a thick owner. The three Americans had walked to the next village (Ages) yesterday and we were hoping to meet them again. At the next village, Atapuerca, we saw the U.S. men sitting on the square waiting for us..... We are back together to go running to Burgos. It was not just a walk. After Atapuerca, it was quite steep over a rocky area at an altitude of 1078 meters (3500 ft). After reaching this level, there was a steep and dangerous downhill (Mata Grande). After hiking many miles on the normal road, we walked through the industrial area and city of Burgos. The Germans (Norbert and Franz) had warned us saying that we had to take the bus to the center of Burgos for the last miles because it was too dangerous to walk through this part of the city. We just walked anyway, and did not meet any scum, but drank a delicious pot of beer at a corner. Because it was again, like on earlier days, warm ...

I could not take pictures during the day because my memory card was full. Too bad, because it was quite a nice area on the hill or mountain (if you can call it that) with a beautiful view. The refugio is near the cathedral. We got a room where we can see the Cathedral through the window.

Through the window : the Cathedral

After entering the refugio I started by looking for a new memory card and new insoles for my shoes. In hopes of getting some help, I walked inside the information office of the city of Burgos and asked where I could buy insoles and a new memory card. The insoles I could obtain in a so-called Blokker shop for € 0.95, but they did not last long!! The municipal refugio is very nice. Nice separate bedrooms with super beds / showers etc. for only € 5.00 per night. I read in a newspaper that municipal refugios are not allowed to ask pilgrims to pay more than € 5,00 because of a provincial law.

The people at the reception desk would not grant my request to stay there for a 2nd night. I did not have a Dutch doctor's certificate stating that I must stay in this municipal albergue 2 nights ... Which I had not …….

A special moment : standing before the Cathedral in Burgos

Oh, of course, we put our laundry together and Mike was again the major washer man and drying master. That night we had dinner together at a restaurant. We were "persuaded" by Emma, a handsome Australian woman, who we remembered as a dancer during the flamingo evening in Logroño. That evening we ordered the Burgo specialties which tasted very good. At the table were our regular group, as well as Angie and Barbara . I had fries with small fish rings which were baked. Among the fries there was a fried egg and of course there was bread served. It was cozy with eight at a table!!

All together : L to R : Kai, I , Angie, George , Matti , Barbera , Mike and Dick

Emma , at the door of the restaurant