Stage 17 : Hornillos to Fromista

Nice brisk morning.  We started out about 7:30.  Headed out of town and over some fields and then BAM... here comes a hill.  Uh oh.  Too early for that I was thinking.

Before we hit the hill we started walking over this bridge.  Seemed out of place, it really was just dividing people's land at this point.  But a bit farther up we pass a real bridge over a small creek.  Must have been bigger in the past.

Uh oh here's our hill. 12% seems a bit steep.

Ah but the view from the top is cool.  The hill is where the castle is above the town we stayed in the night before.  At some point the river must have created this little valley.

So we start walking flat.  Then here we go again, but this time down hill and 18%, my knees were protesting.  So I decided to walk diagonal, back and forth down the path, they were much happier.

The view was nice.

Here we go thru the fields.

This wheat is no longer green.  Looks ready to harvest to me.

Check out how rocky this land is.  They must have some good farm equipment to handle the terrain.

Finally a town approaching.

First a cool bridge.  I like these old styles with their fancy arches.

Once in this town we see a different architecture. Some of these houses seem to be made of mud and grass.

Although the brown ones look like blocks they seem to be made of dirt and hay from what I could tell.

Jack skeleton was showing us the way to the next town.

Passed outside this town, but it looks deserted.

Quinn is about done.  Too bad we still have 8km to go.

Made it to the next town.

Sugar energy for the last 6km.

Checkout the pants on his guy. I think I had a pair of parachute pants in middle school awhile back.  Another couple I wish I had a picture of was the Japaneese.  She had her umbrella and was all covered up.  She was so sun proof.  Then you got me in a ball cap and short sleve.  The SPF45 I have on didn't seem to do much.  I'm working on the best farmers tan yet.  The last of the interesting people were the Dutch guys. I've mentioned them before as the soccer and luggage guys.  Anyway I can't recall if I mentioned it but they also match.  As they walk they both have white polo shirts, matching shoes and socks, and to top it off they both have a gold watch and a survival style bracelet.  On the camino the people are as unique as the scenery.

We walked by this canal until the next town.  We later found out the camino actually went on the other side of this canal at one point but in the 1800s when they built it they didn't want to build a bridge so the route changed.

Here's a bit of a damn for the canal.

Not so sure a damb is suppose to leak like that.

Image of down steam.

So this town, Fromista has 4 churches.  This is the oldest and a rather famous one cause of its age.  I liked the octagon style angles.

Now this is another church in town.  We talked with a lady about the church and if you look closely.  Although I am standing in the center, the church is crooked.  Also most churchas have their alters on the east side.  This is on the north.  The lady said it appears they started building the church over an old church but mid design decided to build a bigger church.  However there is a stream to the right of the church so they had to improvise.  Hence a crooked church.

This art is on wood and belongs in another church in the area.  The church was dilapidated and someone stole the alter pieces which were these paintings.  They were lucky enough to recover the art and it is slowly being restored along with the original church.

At lunch we talked to German that over the last nine years has walked many different ways to Satiago.  From Spain, Portugal, all over.  One funny comment he had was last year he got no blisters this year he has one.  Joe said you used different socks, cause I guess the shoes were the same. He said no, but he did wash them this time.

Today ends Quinn and Joes Camino.  Tomorrow we catch a bus to Burgos to get back to Grañón.  On the 25th I will resume in Leon.  Skipping 5 days of walking.

Quinn and I made up a song for the Camino, in tune with the 12 days of Christmas.

On the first day of the camino my friend said to me a pilgrim with a back pack.

On the second day of walking my friend said to me two hiking sticks

On the third day... three sets of cloths

On the fourth day... four blisters on our feet

On the fifth day.. Five cloths pins

On the sixth day ... Six inch bocadillo (sandwhich)

On the seventh day.. Seven songs a singin

On the eighth day... Eight countries met

On the ninth day... 9 kilometers to go

On the tenth day ... Ten euros for lunch

On the 11th day .. Eleven stops to go

On the 12th day.. Twelve ounces of water.