26 September 2017
Walking Day 14:
25 kilometers
35,705 Steps

Today was another warm day on the meseta in Spain. We left Castrojeriz early, and just about 2 kilometers from the town we had to climb up a 12% grade hill over a kilometer in length. Here we can see the path going up the hill in the distance.

The sign in the picture on the lower right warns of the 12% grade, and the distance being 1050 meters (1.05 kilometers). The day is warming, the sun is out, it is a beautiful day, and the view from the top will be stunning. It is a slow climb, but we all make it.

About half way up, and even the view of the hill in front is nice. There is a way marker just ahead to the right of the path, just in case you think you might have taken a wrong turn somewhere. When I arrived at the monument, I saw that it was a memorial to a pilgrim who died nearby fairly recently, 2011.

A view of the valley from which we started with the wind turbines working away on the next ridge over.

A shot of yours truly at the top with some arriving pilgrims behind me.

A group photo of three of the four French people I see almost every day. They speak almost no English, I speak almost no French, but we walk together a little and share the journey. They definitely have what is called “good energy.”

And then down the hill on the other side, back onto the meseta. The grade down the hill is 18% for the first 400-500 meters! Wow, it is steep!

Just before crossing the river to Itero de la Vega, we pass this little church dedicated to San Nicolas. It is run by Italians, and includes a very small albergue with no electricity, and only running water for a shower and a toilet in the back. Inside, the church is quite nice, simple, but nice.

Then, we cross over this 11-arch bridge over the Rio Pisuerga and into the Province of Palencia. (I could not get all 11 arches in the shot.)

Here I am at the monument announcing that we are in Palencia:

We continue on, across the never-ending meseta, mostly flat and l-o-n-g stretches of no shade. Fortunately, while warm today, it is not oppressively hot.

Eventually, we are on a path with some shade, very welcome shade.

Then, for the last 5 kilometers before Frómista, we are walking along between many trees and an irrigation canal. After a long, warm day, the shade and walk by the canal is pleasant.

We get to Frómista, a town with a declining population of 840 and three large churches. I visited the Gothic Iglesia de San Pedro XV.

The entrance to the Church of San Pedro XV. The inside is also nice, still in use, and includes a small museum (no pictures allowed in the museum).

A long, warm, and very beautiful day on the Camino de Santiago getting to Frómista along the canal.

Next: Taking the alternate, woods path to Carrión de los Condes (if we can find it)