Adios Castrojeriz – El Camino Day 7

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We started out from Castrojeriz at a cool 3C temperature. My toes were lubed with Vaseline which help in preventing the blisters and irritations. Thanks for the tip cousin Michael! We had a shorter day today, around 27 kms. We were able to slow our pace and take it easy.

A narrow cobblestone street in a small town, with traditional stone buildings lining either side, under a cloudy sky.
Leaving Castrojeriz

The days of rushing through 30 Kms + are over we’ve decided. They wear us down and take their toll on our bodies. We met our French friend from Lourdes again today and he said the same thing. The maximum he does is 27 kms to avoid injury and finds it generally to be a better pace.

A person walking along a cobbled street near a stone building with a set of stairs and trees in the background.
Walking past the church in Castrojeriz

The road certainly was kinder to my feet today in most parts and the slower pace helped with that too. As we left Castrojeriz we found ourselves facing another hill to climb. A few locals were out walking rugged up and were asking if we were cold walking in our shorts. I’ve worn shorts so far for the walk as they’re easier to walk in and I don’t feel the cold in my legs as much as I do my hands, head and torso. The beanie and gloves were worn this morning that’s for sure. Actually the beanie was worn all day today.

A winding path through rural fields with a sign indicating the direction of the pilgrimage route, surrounded by grass and low vegetation under a clear blue sky.
A pilgrim sign leading the way, our hill to climb is in the background
A rural path winding through fields under a blue sky with scattered clouds.
Looking back to Castrojeriz

These signs and painted yellow arrows are everywhere to lead the way. You can’t get lost, it’s near impossible. The only time I ask Google for directions is when I get to town and need to find our hotel, even then most of the time they’re sign posted too.

A hiker walking along a dirt path surrounded by rolling hills and fields under a partly cloudy blue sky.
More climbing
A hiker walking along a gravel path with a wooden sign and open fields in the background under a blue sky.
We reach the top to find another mesa or plateau

Halfway up this climb we met a French couple who were on their way to Santiago then onto Fatima. Interestingly the husband wasn’t carrying a backpack but rather towing a converted golf cart behind himself. I suppose it’s possible to do that as the path is generally good. Just need to find someone now pushing a shopping trolley.

A smiling traveler stands on a dirt path with a scenic valley in the background, wearing a backpack and warm clothing.
Ron, having made it to the top of Everest
A winding path leads through a scenic landscape with rolling hills and fields under a partly cloudy sky.
Only a small mesa as we found ourselves descending soon enough

It was another pleasant day walking with the sun out. It was windy today though and we found ourselves walking into it. The wind turbines were certainly getting their winds worth today as we passed plenty of them. More pilgrims today too. Guess what? More Koreans! Also a couple from Willoughby in Sydney. Yay! Fellow Australians.

A gravel road stretches through a landscape with patches of greenery and brown earth, under a blue sky with scattered clouds.
More road that was kind to our feet
A dirt path leading through a scenic landscape with a small stone building on the left and open fields and trees under a blue sky with scattered clouds.
We came across this quaint little scene
An old stone bridge spanning a river, surrounded by sparse vegetation and under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds.
Quite a charming scene

Soon after crossing this bridge we stopped for lunch at an Albergue in a small town called Itero de la Vega. There was a western playing on the TV in Spanish and Ron couldn’t order an omelette with both cheese and ham. He could only have one or the other. We figured it might’ve thrown the chef if something was ordered that erred from the menu slightly. I ordered a boccadillo with ham and cheese that turned out to be just ham, dry and stale. We ate with the sound of guns and horses playing in the background and sipped our cafe americanos while more Korean pilgrims entered in for lunch.

A hiker walks along a dirt path in a rural landscape with a blue sky and scattered clouds.
Hillclimb after lunch

After lunch saw us climbing steadily with the wind blowing against us. It was fairly cool but not unpleasantly so. Walking keeps you warm. The beanie was still on but not the gloves.

Three hikers walking along a dirt path lined with green fields and a stack of hay bales in the distance under a blue sky with scattered clouds.
Young Koreans passing us and another hay castle in a field
A dirt path stretches through a rural landscape with a small hill in the background and a stack of hay bales to the right. The sky is blue with some clouds.
Looking back
A dirt path winding through a landscape with sparse trees and cloudy blue skies.
The road just outside Boadilla del Camino

We soon hit another town. This was about the 20 km mark on our walk today so we knew we were hitting the home stretch. The path was a bit uncomfortable now for the feet. The feet tend to feel worse towards the end of the day but with the added pebbles on the track makes it particularly arduous. Pebbled roads might look quaint but they’re a shocker for walking long distances on. Not that these roads were paved but pebbles were littered along so every footstep had a different footing if you know what I mean.

Low-angle view of an old stone church tower with a bell and a nest at the top, set against a clear sky.
The church tower in Boadilla del Camino
A picturesque pathway lined with leafless trees under a clear blue sky, with puddles reflecting the clouds, suggesting a serene environment.
Walking out of Boadilla del Camino

The sun is facing us as we walk west although it’s in the southern sky so not blinding us as we head to our home Frómista for the night. We met up with our young French friend from Lourdes again here and walk with him into Frómista.

A peaceful river scene with a wooden dock beside a winding waterway, framed by tall trees under a partly cloudy blue sky.
The path is next to a canal that irrigates the fields near it.
A rural gravel path bordered by a canal and trees under a clear blue sky, with scattered clouds in the background.
The path continues along side the canal
A rural pathway lined with bare trees next to a gently flowing river under a clear blue sky, with patches of grass and pebbles along the trail.
A scenic pathway lined with trees displaying autumn foliage, with fallen leaves scattered along the ground and a river visible alongside the path.

The walk into Frómista is picturesque with both the canal, trees and fields. Pebbles on the path were still a nuisance.

We could see our town for the night up ahead which meant the walk for the day was nearing its end. What a relief!

A scenic view from a bridge showing a canal with water flowing underneath and blue sky with scattered clouds above.
Dark water issues

The path wound its way around to a lock where we crossed the canal via a very narrow bridge. From then on we made our way through town with the help of Google this time.

A stone church with a bell tower stands against a clear blue sky, with a person walking nearby carrying a backpack.
Via the old church

We had a simple meal at a restaurant near our hotel. The restaurants serve a pilgrim menu and tonight it was €10 each for an entree and main and a beer. We met our fellow Sydney-siders there and had a chat to them about the walk.

Time now for bed.

For stats and a map of today’s walk you’ll find them below.

Buen Camino!

Narrow street between white-washed buildings under a clear sky.
And through the streets of Frómista

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