Arrived in Boadilla del Camino

DAVE: Today seemed to be the first challenging day for us, mentally and physically. We left Hontanas around seven in the morning with headlamps blazing into a landscape of barren hills and mesas separating isolated little villages nestled among cottonwood trees.

As the day wore on, we climbed one such mesa and continued along the treeless plateau, walking for miles in the blazing sun. Vast nothingness in all directions. The few villages we passed through were welcome jewels in the desert.

The sun and the distance seemed to take its toll on everyone.  As we stumbled into Boadilla del Camino, we were flat out beat.

I mentioned in an earlier post how our Camino family is morphing, with some traveling to different villages for the night, and others foregoing the rest day in Burgos. Along the way, however, we continue to meet great people. Each day is a brand new adventure in new relationships. We chanced upon a solo walker, Galena, who is originally from Bulgaria, but has transplanted to South Africa.  She has even been to Molokai and know some of the people we know ion island! I met fellow Pittsburghers as well (Jim and Scott). It's a small world indeed.

What is interesting about the Camino, is the fact that nationality or profession is not what defines us. We are all lumped together. From the unemployed college graduate, to the doctors, the lawyers, police chiefs, the hot-shot entrepreneurs, it doesn't matter. What matters is the fact we enjoy each other as we make our journey together. 

Today was a hard day, no doubt. Twenty-eight kilometers in a treeless landscape under a blazing sun is no fun. But it was a good day and a half.  New friendships are being made as we progress westward.

Buen Camino!