Rain in Spain - part 2

This morning for about 90min all the water in the heavens poured down and the roads became rivers. Got soaking wet. Cycling with the wet clothes got me dry in the afternoon when another rainfall hit, found a place to stay dry and 45min later the sun came out and I cycled to Puente la Reina, 20km away from Pamplona and my last 100km of camino have now begun. Big albergue here, a bit away from the village with dinner in a big hall.

Burgos

Today a bit of offroad camino in the hills West of Burgos. Cloudy all the day and about up to 12deg. People feel that different, I saw cyclists in winter clothes that I do not wear at 15 deg minus going uphill, while I passed them short trousers and t-shirt downhill with 50km/h... 145km to Belorado, a hostel with a pool and wood fire.

Flachetappe - Rain in Spain

Today not to many hills so 182km to Carrion de los Condes was a lot less pain then yesterday. Again a camp site, or actually two, were closed. Thanks to the pilgrims infrastructure I chose  Albergue Espiritu Sanctu. 17.30 prayers, no smoking or alcohol on the premisses. I get the pilgrims vibe and pray with my friends that FC Bayern will find a suitable replacement for Tuchel (I was asked for that by email, in fact I could not care less as a fan of 1860 Munich)... 

Königsettape?

Early start in Samos with about 2deg. The first climb topped at about 1400m and a small valley downhill with a motorway, a national road and some local offering inbetween. Lots of repair works and closed roads, so my only option was a service lane on the motorway going the wrong side and having to lift the bike at the end to the "right" motorway. All went fast downhill 40 to 50 km/h and the next exit was just another 4km away...

Lunch in Ponferrada and another at the end very steep climb from about 400m to 1500m. Altogether 130km and 2600Hm. Stopped at the famous cross, where pilgrims lay down a stone, something that lays heavy on them from home. I took one from the roof of my work place, 3rd floor, where all the retired astrophysicists have their offices...

Up and Down

Not like the long alpine passes but a lot of short, steep hills with up to 300hm and that sums up. tonight in Samos, sounds Greek to me, in a hostel (no camping around) and tomorrow another day with 120km and 2600hm. Fresh wind from the east (!) sometimes. Eating smoked sausages and a very  rustic style white bread, others are blocking the common kitchen with their cooking and preparations for an hour. Amateurs... :)

Santiago

My last stay was a city on the pilgrims way. For the first time I realized how many do that trip. I overtook more then 100 in the first hours north heading to Santiago. At about noon with probably 500 pilgrims gathered in front of the cathedral. After a short lunch: Camino Frances here we come,  another 45 extremely hilly kilometers east.

Luxury

All camp sites closed during the last year that were reasonably on my way. So I used a Hostel in Pontevedra. And since its Sunday I indulged myself to a cafe in a fancy bar this morning: 80 cent and worth it.