Wakeup was at 5am
 We wanted to hit the hill into the Meseta as early as we could.
Leaving Hontanas, we came to the remains of San Anton, a monastery that served as a hospital and catered to pilgrims who were dying of St Anthony's Fire, a fungus parasite that came on the rye the pilgrims used to carry with them, abd to make their bread with. It was mostly fatal in those days unfortunately..

from here to the town of Castrojeriz it was asphalt country road. Breakfast in Castrojeriz which was a town founded by the Visigoths in the 9 th century, and on to the one thing I was dreading today, the desert climb.

We are not in Kansas anymore Toto

Ahead lies the climb back onto the Meseta, a 10% grade for a 910 meter elevation. Oh well, nothing to do but do it.

Over the top and into the river valley on the other side, we came upon a small pilgrim hospital that is still in existence. Its a church and will still fix blisters for you for a donation. or offer you a bed if you need it. Its run by a lady who just loves the pilgrimage

there was an altar at one end, and bunk bed at the other. Coffee table in the middle for guests.

Crossing the river Pisuera and into the province of Palencia.

it was an easy walk from there to the town of Boadilla Del Camino and the church of Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion, designed in the 18 th century and is one of the prettiest church if this kind along the St James Way.

I had a bottle of water mixed with guava juice here, then headed to my night stop of Fromista which was another 6 km away.It was a pretty and easy walk along the Canal de Castilla which was once used to transport grain, and a stop at the impressive old wier/lock that is no longer in use, it over comes a 14 meter drop which is impressive  engineering for that era in time.

On to Fromista and the Romanesque Iglesia de San Martin church.

Jason hiked with me today, he was off like a rocket this morning, then dragged for a hours or so, then a rocket again, its all got to do with his Maxibon ice cream addiction.

Tomorrow is a relaxing 20 k. And basically a rest day, the reason being is, right after that is a 17.5 km stretch of unbridled sun, no trees, no shade, no water, no towns, I don't want to take chances in this heat, so I want to hit that fresh at 5 am, and get through before the sun sees me coming.

Now, for my nautical minded friends, the sun is over the yard arm. and at $1.50 a liter, we know what that means,,,,,,,,,,,,Vino