Day 11: Belorado to Atapuerca

As Jeff’s knees have felt better, we’ve added more KMs to each days walk. Today’s walk would top out at 31 Kilometers. The next day, Jeff’s last, would be a short haul to Burgos. But first Atapuerca. We left Belorado by 8:00am and arrived at 4:00pm. The walk was through pine forests including a climb over a mountain about 1100 meters. We took our time resting in each town we walked through with the last break of 45 minutes before the last 6 kilometers to Atapuerca.

Atapuerca is best known for an archeological find of a 40,000 year old civilization. Otherwise the town is small with one hotel, casa rural de Papasol, a 3 star hotel, with a fourth star scratched out on its sign. We arrive tired and met by the owner Eric who informs us there is no power, including all of Spain. Of all the news of the power outage effects, it had none on the pilgrims walking today until now.

The hotel is very rustic and Jeff and I wonder how or who decided it was a 3 star hotel. It’s old, the decor appearing 100 years old. Eric shows us our rooms but no hot water was available due to the power outage. Then an hour or so later the power is restored. Downstairs in the bar, the music starts to play, hotel California. Oh boy. I’m somewhat relieved when other guests arrive, two ladies from Holland and another couple from Australia. Please enjoy the pictures:

Leaving Belorado with sun at our back

A church carved into the mountains

Th town of La Campana, 531 KMs to Santiago

Nothing to be said

Trail landscape

Traversing the trail

Rock walls near Atapuerca

One our rest stops

Hotel in Atapuerca

Hotel dinning room

Short doors