The body is complaining, I have pushed the limit a little too far I think, three long days in a row and the signs of fatigue are setting in. I didn't have the drive today, my left knee has a twing that's getting worse, my broken toe is barking louder, and my right hip flexor is complaining. Time to back down and do a few shorter days. I have had this plan in my head, and I think it will work now. I have made up a few days with some long hauls, and now, if I stick to my normal daily distances, I should walk into Santiago de Compostela on June 27 th, my birthday.
This morning I left Vilamoyor Del Rio at 6am, I saw no one on trail for almost 2 hours, it was great, then I caught up to Carlos from Italy who is nursing a strained right thigh muscle, chatted for awhile and left him to try and make it to San Juan de Ortega where I plan to stop tonight, 34 km and the sun is belting down today. Speedy is really fighting the blisters, she knows where I will be tonight, so I hope she can battle through. If she does,,I will suggest a taxi into Burgos tomorrow, rest the feet and look for some light weight running shoes.
Sunrise this morning was behind me,but made for a nice warm start to the day

10 km in I came into Belorado,

A small town on the river Retorto, crossing the bridge I made my way towards the mountains again, on my way through I stopped at a gas station and purchased a 1 euro roll of lemon flavored cream biscuits, ate them all in about 10 minutes. A sugar high really helps with the uphill climbs, just don't get caught half way up the hills when the sugar crash comes a calling.

,

into the mountains with a long climb on unstable dirt, now my body started to complain with reason.

The view from the top of the climb just after Villafranca. From here it was a slight downhill into the tiny village of San Juan de Ortega where tonight I would get to sleep in the old monastery which has 50 beds for 7 euro a night, 25 people in a room, two showers, yay!!

they are doing a little renovation to the monastery, but its still quite a sight.

I trimmed out Leonard the girl elephant by dumping some more stuff, I'm getting by on next to nothing in the way of clothing, but because of the long runs over the past few days, I have had to fill the water bladder in the backpack, which means weight, and Leonard feels like a fat ass again. Tomorrow is into Burgos, a city, lots of time on paved streets, so I'll not fill the water bladder and see how that feels, should be plenty of cafes to drink at on the way. Well, its a communal dinner here tonight in the monastery, we all eat the same, and at the same time, so gotta run before I miss my biscuit and gravy