Walking Day 10:
23 kilometers
30,524 steps

The sun was out early today. We made our way out of Santo Domingo de la Calzada, over the bridge built by Santo Domingo and into the last of the vineards of La Rioja. Just after the town of Grañon We shall cross over into Castilla y León, the largest of Spain’s 17 autonomous regions (roughly akin to our states). We have walked through Navarra (capital is Pamplona) and La Rioja (Capital Logroño). We are now in Castilla y León. Some of the autonomous regions are subdivided into provinces. Castilla y León is divided into 9 provinces, and we shall walk through the northernmost three provinces, Burgos, Palencia, and León. After León, and after more than two weeks in Castilla y León, we cross over into the autonomous region of Galicia, and walk to the capital, Santiago de Compostela.

We walked through mostly already-harvested fields, a striking contrast to the green spring growth I saw a year ago in the springtime here.

After walking through the small town of Grañon, we passed this rather large sign with a diagram of our walk through Castilla y León.

Then it was back into the farmland and [unfortunately] right by highway N-120, a major highway that roughly parallels a good bit of the Camino de Santiago, especially in Castilla y León. There are many trucks and it was loud some of the time. When we diverted into a small town away from the N-120, it was a welcome relief.

This picture was before we got to the edge of the highway, and this part of the walk today was rather nice.

We are not certain what this crop was, but today there were several fields if it. Very green, very healthy-looking.

This way marker was in a little town of Redecilla del Camino. It looks rather old, and clearly announces the region.

And this old tile way marker was on the side of a building about 50 meters from the last way marker. Hard to lose your way in Redecilla del Camino (the way markers AND the fact that the town is only about 60 meters long).

And now for the next 8 kilometers (about 5 miles or almost two hours) we are alongside highway N-120. In this picture you can see a bus coming towards me, and a truck going the opposite direction.

We made it to Belorado, I got a shower, there was a washer, and my clothes are drying in the natural dryer along the Camino path for all walking by to see. Just down the street is the local church.

At the top are stork nests. In this part of Spain, storks nest in the bell towers of many churches. The inside looks like:

Not the best, but very nice in its simplicity.

Tomorrow we walk about 24 kilometers to San Juan de Ortega. San Juan de Ortega was a follower of Santo Domingo de la Calzada and worked much of his life improving the Camino for pilgrims. The town bearing his name is small, population 23. There is a hotel, a church, an albergue in an old monastery, and a cafe/bar. The walk to San Juan de Ortega is very nice, mostly in forest, and the weather is supposed to be nice, as well.

Another late night; I am exhausted; it was another good day on the Camino de Santiago.

Next: Walking to the small town of San Juan de Ortega