June 10 - Day 7 of our Camino - Leon to Ponferrada

                                                                                               Hospital de Orbigo

The long bridge at Hospital de Orbigo

One of the many pilgrim statues along the way.

The Gaudi designed Episcopal Church in Astorga

Barren but beautiful hilltops

Dan stopped to take this video of one of the easier descents on a long day!

Try this link to see some technical details of our ride. When you see the average speed details remember that we were touring, stopping, re-assembling, and in no hurry. The more telling stats are the calories burned, elevation gained etc. Some of the profile does not show the severity due to scale!


Go for it...click on the link!

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/329646536

Go to elevation graph on right side, make sure it's open, click on the diagonal arrow in upper right corner, make sure the horizontal axis is showing distance in kms! You may then get the best idea of both the climb and the descent challenges for this day's ride. If this worked for you, please go through the same process for the next day's ride up to O'Cebreiro...it was a nasty!

Templar Castle in Ponferrada

June 9 - Day 6 of our Camino - Carrion de los Condes to Leon

A small sample of the stained glass in the Cathedral in Leon

built in the 1200's I think...edit please...?

The wood carvings were very interesting.

This was the "meat lovers" meal at the "Roman" fair held right beside the cathedral.

Klari is not so sure about the "meat lovers" choice for tonight's meal.
It reminded us alot of the annual Rotary Ribfest in St. Catharines.

An evening view from the Ramparts just outside our own rooms at the Real Coligiata San Isidor in Leon.

We savoured some fresh bread with a wonderful goats cheese that we purchased at the fair beside the Cathedral. Some fine wine managed to creep into the late evening snack.

Nola posing on the same ramparts a little earlier in the day.
These ramparts were the outer wall of our hotel which was another converted Monastery.

This was the entrance to the hotel.

An inner hallway of the Hotel

Hospital de Orbigo

June 8 - Day 5 of our Camino - Burgos to Carrion de los Condes

Different kinds of road hazards - we had several herding issues
Hit the mesetas on the ride into Carrion. Rolling hills but entirely exposed to the elements. Appeared to be the granary of Spain - huge fields of grain, one after another. Luckily cool weather - we could easily have been exposed and hot as heck for the entire ride. Wind picked up and rain threatened toward the end of the ride. John graciously volunteered to "break wind" for the rest of us. We all felt so much warmer.

Just another animal crossing!

Thinking of my buddy "pedal dammit" John S.

A regular daily post ride sight

Interior hallway at our digs, The Monasterio San Zoilo in Carrion de los Condes

Our hotel rooms all looked like this...we hesitated to post this online!

The cloister at the "hotel"

June 7 - Day 4 of our Camino - a day off in Burgos

Day off in Burgos was rainy, holiday so everything closed, walked around cathedral, stopped in at coffee place with pan chocolate then visited castle although did not venture into underground tunnels. Museum of Evolution closed due to holiday; a shame because oldest evidence of Neanderthals in this region. As rain permitted, walked about, enjoying beautiful walkways along the river etc. stopped at a local fine food emporium to purchase a top notch Spanish prosciutto, wines and other goodies. Pizza night second night. Discovered dollar stores have made their way to Spain. Dan bought a bright orange rain cape in case of further moisture, leading to an infamous incident the following day of the cruising pumpkin, eerily flapping in the wind and seen for miles around.

Klari at the front side of the Burgos Cathedral

Inside the Cathedral in Burgos.

The entrance to the old city in Burgos

A view of Burgos fom the castle. 

The tunnels in the castle hill above the cathedral in Burgos. These provided escape routes and a protected water supply if under seige.

Statue of El Cid in Burgos.

Many bulls but this one in Burgos...

June 6 - Day 3 of our Camino - Logroño to Burgos

Today was a long ride, combining two days-worth, to give us a day off in Burgos the following day. 

Eccentric Sello stamper after we found "Our Way" back to the Camino trail

 

Many of the roads were just like this. Little traveled, beautiful surfaces and views that drew you in.

Santo Domingo de la Calzada

We´ll tell you about the chicken myth soon....

Th real chicken thief

 Stork nest across from John´s hotel window

One of many beautiful stained glass windows!

El Cid - hero of early Spain

Cool weather, intermittently rainy on the ride into Burgos, road construction and a forested stretch without any amenities. Drove back to collect John, Nola and Ian at Villafranca. Settled into hotel then went for tapas.