Day 14 - Hornillos del Camino to Castrojeriz

What a great day! After the storm in the evening, we decided to leave earlier today to avoid some more rain forecast this afternoon and to avoid the worst of the heat. So we were downstairs by 6am to grab some of the bread and jam left by the alburgue host and then out the door and walking by 6.30am! It was lovely walking, cool and dry, as behind us the sun came up over the hills. 

The book said there was a stop at 6.5km and on at 11.5km, so we thought they would be great for two food and drink stops. However best laid plans as you know seldom work out!! We were soon past 6.5km without an obvious place to stop appearing. It turned out a small off grid albergue about 300m off the track was what the book had flagged.  As we were already passed it we carried on to Hontanas.

We met some interesting characters along the way, including Bart from the US who has lived in France for 5 years but does not like the French! He is planning to return to New York, but I think he'll miss the French food and cheap wine!!

We stopped in Hontanas for a second breakfast, it was still only 9.30am and we were 11.5km in, according to the book!

Hontanas was very pretty and had a good selection of places to eat.

Before Castrojeriz are the ruins of the convent of Saint Anton from the 14th century.

The ruins are stunning! There is also a small shop and albergue there, so we bought cold drinks and sat in the ruins for a short break before the last 3km or so. 

As we sat, another old pal was just leaving. She is from Argentina, but lives in Mozambique, working as a doctor specialising in TB and AIDS. She previously worked for Medicins sans Frontieres. She is lovely as you will have deduced from her CV!! Anyway as we chatted about how far we were planning to walk today when I noticed she was wearing one of the necklaces we received from the nun in the chapel yesterday. 

She told us the whole story behind the order of nuns who gave us the necklaces, which are called the Miraculous Medal, or Medalla Milagrosa.  This order of nuns continue to hand out the medals to people with their blessing, we also found out they run an albergue in Carrion de los Condes, a little further along the route.

Fiona found the details here about the medals in case anyone is interested...

https://www.chapellenotredamedelamedaillemiraculeuse.com/langues/english/the-chapel-of-our-lady-of-the-miraculous-medal/

Not long after we left the ruins of Saint Anton, we could see Castrojeriz ahead. The village sits at the foot of a hill with a ruined saracen castle above.

We are staying in a 2 bed apartment connected to an albergue. The hospitalero was lovely when were arrived and we sat in the bar first and had a drink, before being taken to our rooms at the bottom of the garden, I think above the garage. We have a great view out the kitchen window to the church.

After showers and lunch in the albergue, we all had a much needed siesta! Then a quick hand wash of some clothes before planning dinner!!

We had a couple of drinks in our own albergue bar and then headed up the town to a pizza place. We sat outside in sun that was too hot to sit in at 8.30pm!!  Pizza, salad and red wine and home to bed!! What's not to love!!

Today's route...