Day 15 - Castrojeriz to Fromista

We leave Castrojeriz after a great evening. The food was not very up market though, salad, spaghetti and the standard hake. Oh well,  it's nutrition.

We went for a walk up the town and found a bar and the football was on, Bayern Munich - Dortmund. It was a tiny bar which was very quaint. Brilliant end to a perfect day.

We join the Camino in perfect conditions, sunny and cool. We will climb up and over the hill in the distance.

Then start a very steep incline to the top of the Meseta.

You can just make out the path we will take in the distance.










 

The climb to the top was tough and exhausting, but worth every step.









 

The views were stunning.

















Then start a very steep descent down to Ermitade San Nicolas.

Now there's a fine looking pilgrim.

We arrive at Ermitade San Nicolas, where we pass another 13th century pilgrim hospital now converted to an Albergue (pilgrim dormitory, no electricity or washing facilities).

Then on to Puente de Itero whose eleven arches carry us over the Rio Pisuerga and into the provincial de Palencia.

It's getting quite hot now but there is a welcome cool breeze at times.

Fields of extensive agricultural plenty served with rivers and canals that irrigate the rich soil.

There are few trees to offer shade, but we come across an oasis and stop for a snack.

On in to Itero de la Vega, where we find an Albergue that provides shade and serves a much needed salad lunch.

We then follow the Camino along side the canal.

We follow the canal for 4 km into Fromista.

The feet and legs are getting tired, but are helped on by the many new pilgrims we meet on the way.









We cross the canal via an ancient lock.

The canal was used to transport the cereal crops that were grown in the Meseta to the mills, the barges then would have been horse drawn, now the canal is only used for a very small amount of commercial trade and leisure.





We find our little basic hostel that Tony was delighted we were staying at so he could play on the slide.

I am sitting at the bar writing the blog and am joined by a harmless local drunk, who precedes to pour his heart out to me, I think. I can't understand a single word he says. Bless him.