Not what it’s cracked up to be

Day 16 Burgos to Boadilla

59.6km, 5 hours

First day on the bikes and it was a rude awakening! Toni’s bike got a puncture within the first few kms, before we had gotten out of Burgos. Thankfully we found a bike mechanic close who was very helpful. We also managed to grab a tyre pump since that was mysteriously missing from our bike delivery.

First stop in Hornillos, amazing huge bocadillo. 469km store.

Next section included a hideous down hill rocky section that Graham loved and I hated.

We found a St Brigid shrine.

Next stop San Anton ruins- awesome. Outside someone has made a lovely ‘contemplation garden’ including a peaceful seat surrounded by dried lavender cuttings. This would an amazing place to spend the night!

From then on it’s all a horrible blur of big hills and rocky bumpy road. My e-bike motor was only working intermittently and the cardio with the hills made me want to vomit.

Toni and I both found this the physically hardest day yet- whoever said cycling through the Meseta would be easier was wrong!!

Finally reached Boadilla where our Albergue is located. It is a large private Albergue with a lovely grassed area with many pilgrims socialising. We are in a 6-bed room and were very pleased to find our room mates are Lotte and Susan from our original Beilari family! There were only 2 showers and 2 toilets each for women and men, with many pilgrims staying. $14 euro per person.

Delicious dinner, soup (lentil soup with vinegar was amaze), chicken, icecream. We met 2 lovely French ladies (one named Melize and I forgot the other), and an awesome German couple in their 70s Wolfgang (wolfie) and Inge.