Turn Down The Churchbell Volume - and you kids stay off my lawn!! (Day 13)

Today started with a quiet morning hike through Burgos. I'm in awe of this city and it's old town. The cathedral is amazing and I love snaking through the small, ancient streets.

I passed the cathedral shortly after sunrise and it was incredibly quiet

This morning was also a fun game of "find the arrow" to stay on the camino. They were there, painted on the sides of buildings, on the poles of the street signs or on the street itself but you had to really look sometimes. I was in no hurry so I quite enjoyed it. I was reflecting on the previous evenings meal, a really nice time with some of the original group in the cathedral square. The bells went off while we were there and it was impressively loud. It was also impressively long. Maybe oppressively long is more accurate. It went on for 15 minutes. Constant loud clanging and banging. There can be too much of a good thing. If there were people pulling on those bell ropes I'll bet they are insanely good arm wrestlers. Also, I hope they wear hearing protection. I suppose if I'm in Burgos again and bump into a really ripped person with a Miracle Ear I'll know where he/she works.

Before I knew it I was outside of the city and wandering through fields. From what i understand this will be the norm for the next few days. I'm entering the Meseta, which is what i believe is the Spanish equivalent of Kansas. Lots of flat fields, no cover and it's going to be hot. A fair number of pilgrims actually take the bus from Burgos to beyond the Meseta and continue their camino there. Not me, I'm hard core. I also didn't read a lot about the Meseta before I came and now I'm stuck walking it because someone (me) was too busy figuring out which pair of shorts was the best for hiking and buying an awesomely versatile caribiner (which I haven't used yet) rather than researching where they were going and options to bypass the hot parts. Also, I'm hard core.

I do like the sunflower fields. Apparently it’s a more profitable crop than hay or corn so the local farmers have switched some of their fields to it. Who knew?

Today ended up being an easy 14 mile hike (I have to admit that I love being able to say that) and I'm staying in a small village of 70 people for the night before I head off into the plains tomorrow. Yesterday was a good break and one I needed. Time to get back into the grind and knock out some miles! Kansas here I come.

Entering my destination village. Another Walking Dead moment.