Day 15 - Mon. May 12 to Atapuerca

Day 15- Monday, May 12 from Villafranca Montes de Oca to Atapuerca -  11miles from 7:45 to noon

It was a restful day at the hotel, San Anton Abad,  and such a beautiful place. The man who registered us, Alfonso, is one of the owners. He worked in Hopkinsville, KY as a contractor. He and Stoney hit it off. 

The breakfast buffet had scrambled eggs, sausage, fresh bread, fruit, cheese and several kinds of lunch meats. Of course, there was coffee and juice and pastries.  We enjoyed it and it was a wonderful start to our day. 

It was a very cool morning but we started quite a climb first thing so we warmed up quickly. Again, we were walking with many people and some familiar faces. 

Before leaving the hotel we met a young man who had hiked the Appalachian Trail last year. Hot Shot was his trail name. He has an injured knee and said we would probably pass him. He stopped for a break and we did catch up to him. Nick walked and talked win him for an hour or so. Brandon had served 5 yrs. in the Marines and then worked as a contractor for 5 years. He saved a lot of money which enables him to travel. He will attend college when he finishes his travels. He may do the PCT next. He will not have to work when he attends college. The contracting position paid him quite well. He said his twenties were taken by the Marines and then the contractor's position so after college at age 36, he will enter the real world. He had plans to walk all the way to Burgos but he spent the night in Atapuerca too. 

There were no towns in the first six miles and only a couple of very small ones, population 18, where we stopped for a Coke break. It was a beautiful day weather wise.  Stoney doesn't think it got to even 60 degrees. 

A church on the way. 

The trees above were enormous. 

Atapuerca has a population of 200 but we've only seen the woman who runs the store and the mother and daughter who have the albergue. Our room tonight at El Peregrino is a private one with a tiny bathroom. We think the building is a double wide trailer converted to 6 bedrooms with a living space and a small kitchen. The double wide beside us is an albergue with 38 beds, 3 bathrooms and 3 showers. There is a wooden deck area between the two buildings and a nice lawn area with seating on benches as well as tables and chairs. Clothes lines are filled with laundry washed by hand. 

Stoney walked around town and saw a woman who has 8 cats. There is one restaurant/bar here reported to serve good food. We bought eggs, tomatoes and bread and had fried eggs for dinner. Problem was we could not turn on the electric cooktop. Two Belgian men came to our assistance.