Day 15 Villafranco Montes de Oca to Atapuerca
19k – 270k to date
There are all types of characters traveling as pilgrims along this camino. One example is the other night we had a French couple show up late and they wanted a room alone, but none were available, so they stayed in the dorm room with everyone else. Late into the night, there was some rustling going on, a few moans and then in the morning, they were in the same bed together. All I can think is that it must have been colder than I thought…..
Most pilgrims are very considerate of others, bathroom decorum is such, most bathrooms are co-ed. You learn quickly not to worry if you walk into a bathroom and one of the opposite sex is coming out of a stall or taking up a sink. It did take a few times to get use to a strange woman walking in while you are shaving. The big question in everyone’s mind is do hairy underarms show up? Well, sorry to disappoint, be most are thankfully too modest, and I do mean thankfully. Gladly, you have stalls for showers and water closets, so even though we are all in the same bathroom, we are still separated.
Speaking of showers, I am becoming much better at showering, drying off and then getting dressed in a 30″ by 24″ shower stall. You should try to put your briefs or shorts on when you have a wet floor, wet feet and no room to move, just one of the challenges of life on the Camino. I will admit that I am only shaving about once ever 4 or 5 days, it cuts the bathroom time down a bunch. Most men have chosen not to shave at all, there are some rough looking guys out here. For women, I have only seen one woman applying makeup. I think most go natural. Hair care is all over the board, most guys have shorter hair, while girls have all kinds, but none is fixed beyond a few brushings.
Today was a day of climbing first thing for about 4k, then we stayed in the low mountain till about the last kilometer into Ages. I should have read ahead in the guide book, I was not prepared for the climb, but my legs took it well. The views today were very limited as almost all today was in a tree lined path. At one point, I had a look to the north and we were actually higher than a few wind towers.
Tomorrow, I am going to try to start early and be in Burgos by noon. There are two museums that I want to stop in and see. I was told the art work was fantastic in one of them. Yes, I am a tourist on two feet. It is amazing how much you see when moving by foot across a country. I even feel sorry for the bicyclist that are moving to fast to see what we see. Those in cars, what we are all used to, they never see anything but advertising signs. Not a condemnation, just how stark the difference is from walking vs riding.
From today till tomorrow!
Genesis 13:17