It was very quiet, as we walked out of Burgos on Thursday morning. The streets were almost empty. Indeed, the few people who were moving around stood out from the general lack of activity. By the time we cleared the outer suburbs it was after 9 o’clock and some window shutters, on surrounding apartments, were going up. We discovered later, that it was a public holiday. The anniversary of some battle against the moors, hundreds of years ago. Probably involving El Cid. He was a big cheese around Burgos in his day. There is a monument to him and his portrait appears in various places around the city.

An hour out of the city and we run into major roadworks across our route. They are building new motorways and bypasses. Of course there are no diversion signs for the walker and no workmen around because of the public holiday. Along comes a group of four hikers, who happen to be locals. They step over some tape and straight onto the work site and call us to follow. They lead the way across the site, through large concrete pipes and between material storage dumps, and out onto the Camino. They explain that this has saved 3 kms from diverting around the work site. They also tell us about the public holiday. It’s amazing who you meet and what you learn on this trail.

We reached a spot today that Tus, a Norwegian we had been talking to, says is his favourite spot on the Camino. It is Alto Mostalares and is a climb out of the town of Castrojeriz, where we had lunch. From here, we have 16 kms to get to Boadilla, where we intend to stop tonight.

I have long realised, that I have reached that age in life, when the movement of any major joint is accompanied by sound. This is particularly true in mid afternoon, after a break for oranges and chocolate. To get feet under me, and legs to move is a major operation. It is achieved with much groaning and ouching. Several very short steps have to be taken rapidly, while the upper torso remains parallel to the ground. Very slowly, the head comes up as the back straightens and the steps take on normal pace length. The whole procedure takes about a hundred yards to complete and equilibrium is not achieved for several minutes.

Never mind, the Albergue in Boadilla is excellent and the pre-dinner company is first class.