Camino Day Twenty One- Sahagun to El Burgo Ranero (11.4 Miles)

Up at 6:15, repacking, and down to breakfast at 7:00 with lots of other fellow pilgrims ready to start their day on the Camino. Out on the Way at 7:40 and instantly we find the trail lined with London Plane Trees on twenty foot centers. Little did we know that this would be our path for the entire day. Truly amazing how the Way is built, maintained, and improved, all for the pilgrims. Of course, the pilgrims are the lifeblood for this farming region all across the Camino Frances.

It was a short 11.4 mile walk today (when did a 11 mile walk become a short walk?). In fact we had plenty of energy to continue and it is one of the disadvantage of pre-booking all rooms. But then again we have talked to a ton of pilgrims who have not pre-booked and can’t get rooms. Today when we arrived in El Burgo Ranero it was too early to check in to our hotel, La Costa del Adobe (it was 11:30), and we walked the town. We came upon an Albergue and all the early arrival pilgrims were lining up in front of it still an hour and a half before it opened. All to guarantee they get a room. Guess pre-booking works.

We had a nice lunch: fresh homemade chicken soup and white wine for Chris and a lamb hamburger and a large Estrella Galicia beer for John. Ahhhh life on the Camino.

Throughout history the Mesta building materials are not ideal. The stone they do have is not suitable for construction and there are no trees for wood construction. As humans adapt, the locals figured out a way to use the soils. Since they have clay soils and plenty of hay, for centuries they have been making adobe bricks. It has been very enjoyable for us to see the same wall construction as we constructed in Casa Marans in Tucson as they have built here for hundred of years.