Today's segment included what our tour guide calls the last hill until after Léon. The Pyrenees are a fading memory as we walk across Spain's Meseta - central Plateau. This is an area rich in history and it is reflected in the ruins and cathedrals that we see in every town we pass through. It is also a rich wheat growing region. Like the Palouse in Eastern Washington, most of the land is large expanses of wheat and barley. The buildings are not up on the plateau, but are hidden in every erosion feature that allows them to be down out of the constant wind.
This is also a rich source of wind energy for Spain. All of the high points are covered with large windmills and they are an ever present feature of the skyline.
Today's walk was a solo for Bob as the others rested blisters and tired bodies and simply rode a taxi between the start and finish. Tomorrow promises to be closer to full strength.
The walk took us to a new province of the state of Castilla y Léon. The new state is Palencia - not to be confused with Valencia (think oranges). Palencia is all about wheat and barley. That is Pan (bread) and Cerveza (beer) - staples of life in Spain and elsewhere. We have eaten lots of bread, but it is the San Miguel, Mahou and Estrella cerveza that pick us up at the end of the day.
The best example of the villages through which we walk was today's Castrojeriz. It is 2 miles long and 2 streets wide, but is has 4 churches, 2 ruins and a great dependence on Pilgrims. It is also quite proud of its disignation as one of the most beautiful villages in Spain. I saw the sign not fewer than 6 times on my walk through.
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