Day 11 - Belorado to San Juan de Ortega

Well today was a toughie!! 24km in the book with a sprinkling of villages in the first half, but a killer of a second half!!

We noticed last night that Belorado had some interesting cave dwellings behind the hotel and the church. Originally they were inhabited by hermits, but we were told they are used for wine storage!

We left Belorado early after just a coffee in the hotel. The wall art was amazing on the town and sometimes turning to look back is the best view.

We walked to Tosantos for breakfast. Before reaching Villafranca Montes de Oca for lunch we passed another cave dwellings that looked like a church, we passed through a few villages and also pass the 550km to go sign!!

pp

After lunch with more than 12km still to go we were going steeple up hill. The sun was hot but there were trees on the route and the occasional breeze, so we managed ok for a while. We reached a memorial to 300 people who were shot in 1936 during the Spanish civil war for not being on the 'right' side. The mass grave was only found in 2010. 

Although we thought we had completed most of the climb we were suddenly confronted by a steep downhill and back up! 

Neither Mitch nor I had slept well so over all the day seemed interminable. But you always get there, you just need to take breaks, drink plenty and keep going!!

San Juan de Ortega is barely a hamlet. It has a huge monastery and church with an alburgue. There is two other small albugues and bars and a hotel that were are staying in.

Dinner in one of the bars and an early night, tending to blisters seems to be the deal today!!

Today's route...