Yesterday, in the late afternoon, in Villafranca it began to pour. The sound of the rain on the clear roof in the hotel was wonderful. It was lucky that I had closed the window in the Albergue.

Clemente, Xavi (which is Catalan for Javier), Carmen and I had dinner at the hotel. They were all speaking Spanish so I was very quiet during dinner – what a surprise.

Photo of Xavi, Carmen & me.

This is Bob and Gloria who I have connected with several times. They are from Main and have a daughter and son-in-law in Portland.

Even though the forecast was for 35% chance of rain in the morning! we woke up to a clear view of the moon and some stars. There was a great buffet breakfast at the hotel and we didn’t start walking until 8:15. The 15 km walk today was not as difficult as I thought. It was certainly no harder than Dog Mountain. We walked through various sections of ferns, small oak trees, and small pines.

We stopped in St. Juan de Ortega to look in the church. Clemente explained about the miracle of the light. On March 23rd each year the light that comes in from one window completely lights on of the alters. On September 23rd, it lights a figure of Jesus on a different wall in another section of the church

Along the way we saw a man who pulls a small cart behind him as he walks the Camino.

Clemente told me we would come across a woman (and her dog) who would have fruit for a donation. I was glad to see her because she had watermelon and I was thirsty. I still had water in my bottle, but the watermelon was great.

Rosa, Elodia, Xaui, Carmen, and I are staying in Ages at Taverna de Ages tonight.

Clemente was picked up to go sleep in his vacation house which is near here for the night. He is picking Rosa, Elodia and I up in the morning to drive us to Burgos. We will avoid the long walk into Burgos through the industrial area. I will spend 2 night say Francisco’s place (another Servas host) and Clemente will go back to his house. Then he will meet me in Burgos and a friend of his will drive us to someplace past Burgos where we will start walking again. I can hardly believe this is happening.

Off to shower and talk with other pilgrims.