Stage 4 – Villafranca Montes de Oca – Ages (16k/10.9mi)

9.13.2016
After a night of no sleep in a quaint albergue (hostel), we are not eager to walk. Between my feet issues and the heat with no air conditioning, I am not in a Camino mood.
Our walk today has a steep up hill and descent and then an easy flat 6 miles. Funny that we are starting to think of a flat 6 miles as easy. I have decided to bandage my toes and walk in my trail shoes versus the sandals as it is supposed to rain. Off we go with the promise of a 4 star hotel with air conditioning and a decent bed in Burgos. The up hills are becoming less challenging but the descent is tough on the blisters. I walk down in a zig zag pattern with John following telling me to zig zag! We actually make the trip in good time and feel good once the double espresso kicks in for me. John knows not to speak to me until we pass the 4 mile mark haha!! The rain and thunder threaten the entire way so we are motivated to make haste. We arrive in Ages – our final destination in 31/2 hours and enjoy lunch, cervaza (beer) at a bar before the rain starts. The walk itself is through forest roads and is not as scenic as our other walks. We walk through free range cattle areas where similar to the dogs, the cattle are close to the road and make no mind of us at all!

The last of our group arrives at the 5 1/2 hour mark soaked from the last 3 miles walked in rain. We take the van for a 40 minute ride to Burgos. Burgos is a beautiful Castilian city. There is a promanade outside the fortress wall lined with cafes/bars and inside the fortress entrance there is a magnificent Cathedral.

We are given a private tour of the Cathedral and are free for dinner and shopping. We eat potato chips and have several glasses of wine for dinner in our room and will be asleep by 10pm. Tomorrow will be cold and rainy and we both are very tired. One more day of walking and then a rest day in Leon.

As we walk, we think of our Vin Maus and wonder at his experiences on the Camino. We have begun talking of our Camino as the “way of Vin” as he went before us. We often wonder where he stopped or what he ate or what he would have thought along the way.