I stayed in the municipal albergue in Burgos. It is big but very nice. The beds are kind of in pods of 4 with multiple floors of beds. We were able to do our wash and even dry it which was a treat.

We did not arrive in Burgos until after 4pm so when we checked in we sprinted to get our beds and take a desperately needed shower before doing our wash.

While we were doing our wash we met a couple from Sisters Oregon. Steven has walked the Camino many times as well as served as a hospitalero in Ponferada and as a volunteer in the pilgrims office. Kathy his partner is a first time pilgrim. Ed and I greed to have dinner with them. It was the weirdest dinner. First we went to an Italian place that was outrageously expensive and then there was the company, both Steven and Kathy seem very nice but turned out to be a little off. We got through dinner as best as possible and went to bed.

Walking from Burgos to Hontanas is kind of a slog. It was beautiful, sunny with not a cloud in the sky. Walking out of Burgos is now really easy. All of the construction is mostly done so the way is really well set. The first stop is about 9km and then another 11km to Hornillos del Camino. Many people stope in Hornillos but I have always gone on. The climbs are long and can be steep. The Meseta is NOT FLAT! Today was all about ups and downs. When we finally reached Hontanas we stayed en El Puntido albergue. I stayed here in 2013. It was really nice. The food was great. It filled with people, so the opportunity to meet and talk with different people was great.

Tomorrow we will walk to Boadilla del Camino. 29km

The Albergue San Anton Abada was a really nice albergue. The water was hot and abundant. In my room there were single beds although other rooms had bunk beds and most importantly there was heat. I did not eat at the albergue but all reports are that the food was delicious. I ate at the bar El Pájaro which is just as you come into town. It was really good. I had rabbit stew.

The walk today was in a word crazy. We started out planning on walking to an albergue that was recommended by my friend Jose Miguel. It would have been a out 27km but as it turned out the albergue was closed so we walked into Burgos. Close to 40km. My watch says 24.8 miles. I´m tired.

Well, first of all last night was one of the coldest nights I have had on the Camino. The room was freezing and it almost hurt to breather it was so cold. I stayed in a donativo albergue that was interesting to say the least. I am a pilgrim so I am grateful to have had a roof over my head and a meal. That being said as meals go it was not at the top of my donativo list but hey it was ok.

Today we walked from Grañon to Villafranca Montes de Oca. I usually stop in Villafranca for breakfast as I have stayed in Tosantos but it was closed so we walked 28k. I had a chance to have lunch with a friend from the area whom I met last year while walking the Via de la Plata. Jose Miguel lives in Miranda de Ebro which is only about 30km from here. We had a great lunch and reminisced about the Camino. I also met his friend Mateo who is a hospitalero in Miranda which is on the Camino de Bayona. Ed also knows Jose Miguel so we both had fun talking to him.

Villafranca is at the base of what will be a relatively long climb. It is 12km to the next town when is San Juan de Ortega. I will most likely walk to within 10km of Burgos so that Saturday is a short day into Burgos.

Still having fun. My body is getting stronger. We walked very fast today and even with stops were faster than 5km per hours.