Belorado - San Juan Ortega (pop 20) 24.3km October 6

We are both feeling our muscles becoming stronger- everything is good, our feet are perfect.  I slather mine in Vaseline everyday , Sid does not, but no issues so far.  And there are many foot issues on the camino.

We leave at our usual time, it is cooler again this morning and kind of drizzly.  We continue to walk through farmland and see some creativity in the sunflower fields

We try to drink 2 litres of water each while walking-I forgot my water bottle somewhere so Sid is now carrying all of our water- we fill up here

We have breakfast at Villafranca de Montes de Oca, we each have a decadent chocolate filled pastry.  It is Devine

We walk out of farmland and into forest - almost rainforest(ish)

There is plenty of up and down but not such a struggle

We have our picnic lunch

We continue on to San Juan de Ortega , population 30.  The guide said the albergue is draughty and the is only one other dwelling for accommodation .  So last night I phoned to make a reservation.  The poor soul taking my call didn't speak English and I wasn't doing too good with my Spanish , he finally said where are you from - Canada!  So when we arrived our reservation was under Canada.  It is very nice here

We have a bathtub, but no plug! La Henera (50 Euros)

 We have a beer or two at the bar and watch the pilgrims pass by

This Austrian joins us and tells us that his camino began in Geneva Switzerland on August 22, when he gets to Santiago he will have walked 2000 km.  Oh my.

We have the pilgrims supper of salad, tuna in a pastry and blood pudding.