Friday 7 October.  A little warmer than yesterday.

A SMDG – explained below.

Very small town.  Population about 23  Next closest has 65 people. However, and important monastery is here.  Quite a beautiful one being restored.

Long day over various terrain.  The first half on reconstructed pathways, the second, over the Montes de Oca, on the difficult old roads.

Garmin: 29 km. about 1900 feet of climbing mostly over the mountain.

The day begins cold, 38F cold.  Took a while to heat up and by the end of the day too warm. Such is the Camino.

The first half is a marketers dream.  Wonderful roads and lovely scenery.

Five arched bridge of Román design.

The early day road. No farm animals seen throughout the day.  

Saturday mornings a number of the gentle readers meet for coffee, the SMCG.   Here in a small town we ran into the SMDG. Saturday morning drinking group.

Several men were at the bar drinking Mo Sa Tel.  Naturally I had to discuss what it was and what they were adding to it.  

Essentially Muscatel with Grappa added.  Being Spanish friendly the bar keeper have us one to drink.  No charge. 

Sweet, not clawing, Sherry like but thinner.  We both liked and finished.

Discussed the Camino roads with a local.  I mentioned I thought they were much different than our previous trip.  Yes, very much improved. Before “horrible” but fixed for more tourism. 

However, the Montes de Oca not so much.

Monument to 300 killed in Spanish Civil War. Monument is on top of one of the passes. 

A much needed Oasis on the long stretch to Ortega.

Ortega’s remains

Monastery