Day: 9
Date: Sunday, 28 May 2023.
From: Puente Duero To: Penaflor de Hornija
Distance (Planned): 29km Actual (Garmin): 27.8km
Progress: 249/801km
Start Walking: 0632 End: 111pm Time: 6h38m
Ascent: 329m Descent: 163m
Terrain: Very mixed. High plateaus with drops down into and climbs out of deep valleys.
Weather: Low cloud, misty and incredibly humid and sticky.
Stayed At: Albergue Municipal de Penaflor de Hornija – €5.
General Comments:
- This morning before I set out from the albergue I had a light jumper on, but quickly realised that this was completely unnecessary as it was already quite warm at 6:30am. Wild storms last night had left plenty of moisture in the air and unfortunately that warmth only increased, and it turned into an incredibly muggy and sticky day. Not pleasant.
- The more pleasant part of the day was the wider variety of scenery. Yes, there was the usual sandy path through pine forest to start me off and then once I had climbed up through the gorgeous town of Simancas, the terrain quickly changed to rolling hills, twisting and turning roads, bordered by the thickest wheat crops and the endless scarlet poppies.
- While I do love the wide openness of the meseta, it was nice to see hills and valleys for change. Of course, those hills and valleys meant that I was no longer strolling along on dead flat paths and had to dig a bit deeper to get up the hills.
- Eventually I left the valleys behind and it became a pattern of short sharp dips down into a town and then a steep climb up onto a high plateau where again, there was nothing to see but wheat, wheat, and wheat. And wind turbines of course.
- I understand from tomorrow I am back into meseta-like conditions, i.e. dead flat, and that will take me all the way to Sahagun and the end of the Camino Madrid in a couple of days.
Top Tips:
- No real tips for today other than to pack plenty of snacks and water, and of course wear a hat and sunscreen. Most of today’s path had no shade whatsoever and that made it feel even hotter. The path does take you through a number of towns and it really depends what time you are walking whether anything will be open.
- Simancas looks like an fabulous town and well worth a revisit. I walked through at about 7:30 and you can imagine that there was not much happening at that time on a Sunday morning. With its sweeping views over the river and the surrounding flat countryside it certainly has a lot to offer from a scenic viewpoint.
Buen Camino.
Life...one big adventure 
Brilliant photos today Mel! Loved all of them and was excited to see a food photo. It’s so nice to tag along, you’re doing a wonderful job of taking us with you. You’re doing amazing! xx
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It stayed so misty and hazy all day, I wasn’t sure how the photos were going to turn out. It certainly was a pretty day. And you are lucky I remembered to take a photo of lunch! 😆 I was positively inhaling that food and I am now an official fan of gazpacho. 🍵🍵
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I like the photo of the bridge!
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It was a stunning bridge and had huge fish swimming below. It’s a wonder people weren’t fishing for lunch. 🎣🎣
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We stayed in Santervas our last night before Saharan. Alberque at the top of the hill. Very pleasant. There is a museum for Ponce de Leon who was a conquistador first in Inca land (Peru) then set out to find gold in “Florida”. Died trying!.
They had a nice dinner to offer as I recall. Lue had to go up the road to get some wine for dinner as they had non at the alberque!
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Huh! I did not know that about the conquistador. I am not going to make it there as I have a couple of big days scheduled and will walk through Santervas. One day we must share a bottle of wine again. 🍷🍷
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I sent you an email of the entrance with Lue in it.
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Ta.
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Shame about the weather, bit at least it’s not raining yet. Fabulous poppy fields Mel and a lovely town. You are doing very well. Does the end of the Madrid Camino mean it will be much busier?
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Yes, I hit the Camino Frances in a couple of days and that is the most popular path of all the Caminos. While it will come as a bit of a shock, it will be nice to see other walkers again. It’s seems I am in a bubble of my own as there is a group of 5 people only a day ahead of me. I will enjoy the solitude (and sole use of the albergues) while I can.
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Humidity….ugh. Hope that doesn’t last too long. Fantastic photos again. So many wonderful Camino related art – it must add to the feeling of pilgrimage.
I’m watching you clock these 25km plus days one after the other and wondering if you’ll be bored in September/October. 😜
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OMG! In September I will be carrying a lot more weight on my back and will be slower than a wet week! 😂
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Beautiful captures!! Loved it!!
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Many thanks for your kind words.
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Oh those photos are beautiful Mel. The poppy fields made me smile.
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I’m so glad. They make me smile too. It’s hard to believe that Mother Nature can create such vibrant colours. Thanks for the kind words. Mel
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Love the bridge, love the door, love the poppies … just love your Camino!
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Hopefully I am giving you terribly itchy feet!
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Of course you do 😁
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Good! 🚶♀️🚶♀️🥾
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Gorgeous poppies and a lovely town. Going well, Mel!
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Yep, I have found my groove, baby!😊
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I can almost see the humidity in the photos. No thank you. Looks very muggy.
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Thankfully I have had a bit of a breeze the last couple of days to break the heat.
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Love the red poppies!
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Yep, they were pretty special and so vibrant.
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