Day 28

El Burgo Ranero to Mansilla de las Mulas - 20 kms
8 May 2019

No soft morning with the golden glow of sunrise today. We got on our way before full light and spent the whole walk battling the elements. It was windy when we walked into El Burgo Ranero yesterday and from then on the wind kept increasing and throughout last night there were heavy downpours for short periods as well. Morning found us in the semi-dark being buffeted by the wind, it increased in strength as we walked and for a while we had a few spits of rain as well. We're rather odd as instead of finding it hard going we found it invigorating and we had to laugh as we rolled with the wind as though we'd had been drinking for hours. Our walking poles being blown out to the side and not always making contact with the ground, birds were flying backwards and sideways at the same time, and wildflowers on the roadside were bent to the ground as though checking to see how strongly rooted they were! After walking 13 kms or so we had a very welcome stop at a cafe in Reliegos, the only village on today's walk, gaining energy to go out and be buffeted about once again. As we got to Mansilla de las Mulas the wind calmed, the sun came out and we sat in the plaza and had a picnic lunch.
For the last several days we have been walking through vast acres of flat crop land as far as the eye can see in every direction - Tierra de Campos: Land of Fields. It's like the Canterbury Plains only on a massive scale. Today, however, in front of us we could see the mountains in the distance - some with snow in the valleys. These are what we'll be facing in the coming days.

Setting out in the wild weather

Jeff listing to one side in the wind.

Ruins of a building. The buildings made from clay crumble away over the years.

We have seen a few with motor-homes obviously free camping.

The wind carried a few spits of rain for a wee while - or it could have been fine water drops from the irrigation system in the paddock next to use - so out came our ponchos; they flapped about in the wind but did their job well. So good to have complete cover for our packs.

Way side picnic tables but we didn't stop as preferred to keep going in the wild weather.

At Regiegos where we stopped for our breakfast...

...and opposite the cafe bodegas were set into the hillside.

Bodegas air vents

Roses are in bloom now

Pappy's house is in Reliegos. It's so good that he's an electrician as he'll soon have the wiring sorted.

Pappy's door.

After leaving Reliegos we were out in the wild again for the last part of today's walk. 

By now it was difficult to walk straight  - the wind had strengthened so much.

Coming into Mansilla de las Mulas:

Some tired pilgrims, maybe they battled strong winds too.

Crumbling remains of the town wall  - dates back to the 1100s.

Santa Maria Church in Mansilla de las Mulas

The wind had eased and the sun came out in time for our picnic lunch in the town plaza.

The view from our window tonight.

We sampled some goodies from this shop 

Santiago  - St James - in Mansilla de Las Mulas