Terradillos de los Templarios to Bercianos del Real Camino

24.5 km and 4:57 (see map).

Many small villages along the way today, so equally as many stops for coffee, tea, food. The Camino essentially followed the route of the autovia (A-231), but on a path some way from the road so there was no traffic noise to contend with and the birdsong dominated. Lovely relaxed walking again through farmland with lots of flowers out along the path – red poppies, blue cornflowers, white and yellow daisies, and every now and then the yellow flowers of rapeseed plants.

This is the entrance to one of the hillside bodegas (used for storing food, wine) at Moratinos, the first village of the day.

The long and (not quite winding) road.

David (L) and Tim (R) with an American Bob at an early coffee stop (San Nicolás del Real Camino).

On the way to Sahagún.

Olga (centre) with two Englishmen.

Medieval bridge, Sahagùn.

Tim and David with Ash from Ireland.

Nearing Bercianos del Real Camino.

Typical display of wildflowers by the path.

Queuing to check in at the donativo in Bercianos del Real Camino. It opened at 1:30.

Check in.

Communal dinner. Paella in the pans. Lots of fun. After dinner each nationality present had to sing a song fron their country; the three Australians did all verses of Waltzing Matilda (to rapturous applause I might add).

Hornillos del Camino to Castrojeriz

20.2 km and 4:02 (see map).

Early in the walk. Long shadows from the sun rising behind us.

Standard scene for the first few hours – green crops, blue skies, cotton-wool clouds.

Further along the meseta.

Wind farms all around. Counted 35 generators in this one (on the skyline).

The path down to Hontanas …

… and morning tea (well, a coffee actually and a fabulous sandwich called a zapatilla – crusty bread, with tomatoes, olive oil and lashings of jamon serrano).

Met up at Hontanas with Tim again and his friend David also from the UK and who joined the Camino at Burgos. Tim at the rear in this shot, David in front with June from Canada who I walked with to Hontanas.

En route to Castrojeriz, from Hontanas.

San Antón.

David from the UK.

David from Australia.

Entering Castrojeriz.

Room at the municipal hostel. €5 for the night. No extra for snorers.