Wednesday April 15, 2009
Day 8: Granon to San Juan de Ortega (Walk - 41km)
Woke to the sound of church bells ringing just above where I was sleeping. The host had put on a fantastic breakfast with plenty of hot coffee.
All the accomodation and meals were free and it was up to you give a donation which is used to restore the church. Unbelievable, this has been the best place I have stayed as far as Camino spirit goes. The sun tried to come out as I started the walk this morning but did not quite make it. The walk today can be neatly divided into 6 hours of walking along a major inetrstate highway into a bitterly cold wind that was blasting the skin off my face. This was then followed by a climb onto Montes de Oca which is about 1200m above sea level in a light drizzle which got heavier as i got to the top. The rain turned to snow/hail which continued for the next 3 hours through the most desolate countryside I have walked through. 
The walk was along a wide trail that looks like it was a road cleared through an oak forest - muddy and slippery. Now I was really wandering what on earth I was doing here. It was cold, wet, muddy and lonely. Eventully the rain stopped and the sun came out, just as I arrived at a Monastery which housed the Alburgue. 
I was so relieved to get here - I dont think I have ever worked so hard in my life. The Monastery was the only building along a 20km strech of oak forest. Luckily they had opened a bar within the building, where I ended up having dinner with a Dutch guy cycling to Santiago from Holland, an English girl who is catching taxis when she has had enough of walking and a Swedish reflexology massuese. Never thought that blood sausage - morcillo - accompanied by red wine could taste so good. A freezing night in the Monastery where I slpet in all all the clothes I had, sleeping bag and two blankets and I was still cold. The Monastery is at 1200m above sea level which may explain some of the cold weather. Can not get away from here fast enough.
Day 8: Granon to San Juan de Ortega (Walk - 41km)
Woke to the sound of church bells ringing just above where I was sleeping. The host had put on a fantastic breakfast with plenty of hot coffee.
All the accomodation and meals were free and it was up to you give a donation which is used to restore the church. Unbelievable, this has been the best place I have stayed as far as Camino spirit goes. The sun tried to come out as I started the walk this morning but did not quite make it. The walk today can be neatly divided into 6 hours of walking along a major inetrstate highway into a bitterly cold wind that was blasting the skin off my face. This was then followed by a climb onto Montes de Oca which is about 1200m above sea level in a light drizzle which got heavier as i got to the top. The rain turned to snow/hail which continued for the next 3 hours through the most desolate countryside I have walked through. The walk was along a wide trail that looks like it was a road cleared through an oak forest - muddy and slippery. Now I was really wandering what on earth I was doing here. It was cold, wet, muddy and lonely. Eventully the rain stopped and the sun came out, just as I arrived at a Monastery which housed the Alburgue. I was so relieved to get here - I dont think I have ever worked so hard in my life. The Monastery was the only building along a 20km strech of oak forest. Luckily they had opened a bar within the building, where I ended up having dinner with a Dutch guy cycling to Santiago from Holland, an English girl who is catching taxis when she has had enough of walking and a Swedish reflexology massuese. Never thought that blood sausage - morcillo - accompanied by red wine could taste so good. A freezing night in the Monastery where I slpet in all all the clothes I had, sleeping bag and two blankets and I was still cold. The Monastery is at 1200m above sea level which may explain some of the cold weather. Can not get away from here fast enough. 
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