Belorado to San Juan de Ortega

Had toast and coffee for breakfast along with our protein shake. The day started out quite cool and we needed the vest and 2nd layer of shirts. 10 KM done by 9:30 along with a cafe con leche and cookie in Villambiatia. By 10:30 we are at Villafranca Montes de Oca and had a second breakfast to help us with the 3 hills we went up and 2 we went down over the next 13 KM. (there are many towns with the name Villafranca because these were basically French pilgrims who went to Santiago and then on their way home decided to stay. Perhaps one reason for the wonderful wine in Spain is that the French pilgrims taught them a few wine tricks.

We finally staggered into town at 3:30. Town being basically a monastery and a casa rural where we are staying. The pathway was not as depicted in the guidebook! I was expecting natural pathways along the oak and the later pine coverage. Unfortunately it looked like a large bulldozer had come through and opened up what had been a delightful trail. I have to go back and check Kay's journal for when they did their trip in April and May of 2001 this was before the trail became a Heritage site in 1993.
Our room is very nice (50 €) and we washed and hung the laundry out to dry after our shower. Dinner was served at 7pm but took some time. The population of this place in 20 people.
Tomorrow up early and off to Burgos. We had a predinner glass of wine with E2 and will walk with them tomorrow, but we need to be out by the Monastery at 6:30.
We did spend some time every 5 KM changing socks as suggested by the foot specialist at the Albergues. It does cool your feet down.