25 Miles of Pure Cruising!

September 27 - 28

After a day of rest in Burgos, I was ready to enter the next region of our walk into the relative wilderness of the Meseta. Over the next 2 days, our new family of peregrinos - Mary & Lisa, Mary & Cela and Bill & I - travelled through endless crop fields and into ancient pilgrim cities. The walks were short - no more than 13 miles - and mostly on level ground. They were casual and free-spirited. Passing pilgrims often joined in on our dynamic conversations and contagious laughter. It was a great opportunity to take flight!

On a more serious note, along the road to Hornillos, we strolled through the town of Rabe de las Calzadas and were treated to a classic pilgrim village and 13th century church. The way to Castrojeriz was punctuated with reminders of those who paved the way many centuries ago, such as the ruins of the Convent of San Anton.

Perhaps most inspiring, we met a young man who was walking the Camino with his 20-year-old brother with cerebral palsy. By the time we met the brothers, they had been joined by other pilgrims. The team was pushing the wheelchair and carrying the younger brother over terrain that was otherwise impassable. We all walked away with a different perspective on the discomfort of our blisters and the weight of our backpacks. There is little doubt that the brothers will find their way to Santiago while touching the lives of hundreds of their fellow pilgrims - and motivating many to go beyond what they ever thought possible!

~ Buen Camino, Carol ~