THE MESETA

After a 2 day rest in Burgos I hit the Camino once more. Burgos is another fascinating Spanish city. I am now on the Meseta and will be for the next 6 days. The Meseta has rolling wheat fields, vast vistas, hot sun and gentle winds. I cross a Roman bridge and walk Roman roads, This area predates Caesar and was the bread basket of the Roman Empire. At Castrojeriz I can see a 2000 year old castle on a hilltop. All of a sudden my flat walk is interupted by Spains´s Grouse Grind, a tough slug up the Alto de Mostelares. And then down again. I must now brag a bit, as I reached the peak and viewed the descent, an old truck stopped and the driver pointed at the passenger seat, in the spirit of the Camino I declined his offer.
I am surprised at the solitude, when I first started my walk there were many of us grouped together, I now have gone a whole day not seing one person. There are camino Junkies who do a portion each year and they have left now and the hike has a fair share of foot casualties. Speaking of which my foot has improved. The day before yesterday was my personal best I walked 30 K. on a brutal hot day. The afternoons are very hot on the Meseta, it has not rained the 4 weeks I have been in Spain.
Walking the Meseta is just like walking from Regina to Calgary, except for the delightful Spanish villages on the way. each with a fascinating history and a wonderful church.
This past week has seen 2 milestones I passed the halfway mark and I received my first old age pension. I am now in Leon and will stay for 2 days.