Day 17 – Burgos to Hornillos del Camino
21k – 311k to date
Early wake up call – This morning, in the municipal hostel in Burgos, I was awakened at 5:40 with what I thought was an awfully noisy cell phone alarm. By the time I gained my senses and took my earplugs out (remember ear plugs are essential), I realized that wasn’t a cell phone alarm, but the fire alarm going off! Since the hostel was completely full, there were 150 of us gaining our bearings and moving to the exit. What to take, I just grabbed my passport, sandals and a blanket and started the trek down 7 flights of stairs. Some people grabbed backpacks and some grabbed nothing. When we all got to the ground flooor, we found that the front door was locked. The side gate to the courtyard was also locked, so we had a lot of us effectively trapped in the courtyard. The police got there quickly and got the side gate open, so everyone filled out to the street. At 6:30, yes, 50 minutes after the fire alarm started and was still going, the fire crew arrived. Within about 30 minutes, it was determined there was no fire and it was safe to reenter. Damage to everyone’s sleep had been done, but as we talked, it makes a good story.
We later found out some more details about everything being locked. At almost all the hostels, they have a light’s out policy. That policy includes locking the front door and not letting anyone in after light’s out, that includes anyone already registered but who might have decided to stay to long at the bar. I did hear of one getting locked out in Puente la Reina. Anyways, the Burgos hostel had a person one duty all night, but he was deaf and never heard the firm alarm. I guess municipal codes are a little different here. I am just glad it was a false alarm.
Today, I had to stay in Burgos for a little extra time to buy a new pair of shoes, I blew the insole out of the right one I had about 4 days ago and it was killing the biomechanics of my walking. Once I had my shopping done, it was on the road and a late arrival into Hornillas. I was extremely lucky to get a bed there, as all hostels were completo (full), but one said he had one extra bed reserved but it was so late he did not think the one who reserved was coming. I think he just took pity on me.
The walk from Burgos put me in a different area known as the Meseta. This is a dryer area and almost exclusively wheat farming. While there are still some ups and downs, they are much more gentle and mostly the path today was just straight and longer. I have gone in three days from pine trees to cactus and sage. The views are different, but still worth looking at.
The local people we see on the roads and in the towns have a variety of attitudes for the pilgrims. Mostly, it is very positive and very friendly. In Logrono, there were two of us looking lost and he stopped his car in a busy intersection to show us the correct way. That is the attitude of most. The biggest difference is those that go to the local bars (cafe) after lunch time, these would just as soon you no bother their territory. Luckily, that is pretty minor and those types are readily identifiable. I love seeing an older couple walking get and they will stop, smile and say Buen Camino. Most appreciate those that are walking west.
Hiking is not a bad way of life.
Hebrews 13:1-2