Day 20, El Burgo Ranero to Mansilla de las Mulas

June 23

Mansilla de las Mulas - as far as I can make out it means the place where you saddle the mules.

It was another relatively boring day - long straight paths alongside a road. It had the advantage for me that it was relatively short (19km) and the surface was good, giving my various ailments a chance to sort themselves out.

I had one of the most comfortable days for more than a week, walking slowly with my audio book for entertainment and no distractions or conversations.

I woke early - soon after 6am, after a quiet early night and a good sleep. There was no sign of life, let alone breakfast, in fact I was locked in (although my room key got me outside). I went to the albergue next door for a coffee. They told me the owners of the hotel I was in were crazy, that they were tired of running a hotel and generally slack.

By the time I was packed, it was 7.30am and it looked like breakfast might materialise, but I decided to hit the road.

The storks in the cathedral were very active as I left town and the sign assured me I didn't have far to go.



There was rain threatening, so the sky was a continual entertainment - I've included a few big landscapes in the album at the bottom of the page (and at the top too).

The mice were very active and I finally managed a photo of one on the move.

Other than that excitement, it was a steady stroll until after about three hours I reached the village  of Reliegos, home of very upmarket bodegas. I realised in an earlier blog I said that they were used for storage of grain and rice - I meant grain and wine (not much rice around here).                 


 At the entrance to town was a very nice albergue and in the time it took to squeeze a couple of oranges I had a very nice breakfast.

It wasn't far from there to my destination - in a very nice little village. The hotel has only four rooms and they are very nice with old furniture, a canopied bed and very comfortable bath.



I wandered out and met Simon, the Irish man from last night, so we had lunch.

Later I met Josie, who I've run into a lot lately and had a glass of wine while she ate her lunch.

And now I think it's time to follow custom and have a little siesta - it's about 4.30pm.

 

What a surprise when I lay on the bed, listening to the distant rumble of thunder - what a view. Apart from the impact of the church spire right in my face, the grape vine obscured the hotel's outdoor dining space, where I'll have dinner tonight.

Today's photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Yg9uJbWS1mps3qVM6

Here's one of those quirky little Google videos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/hiyeczDWrSfH81eS7

And here's today's details off my watch: https://app.suunto.com/move/petergibbs/5d0f8aa9d85e39e7744f85f8/

Even later - had one of the best dinners yet - from left, Josie from Australia, Ky from Switzerland, me and Simon from Ireland.