Belorado did not have a lot of personality so it was good to be back on the Camino early the next morning.

We had planned a short 7 mile day but did not realize that the three small towns we would pass through would have no services. No mid morning coffee and snack today.

At only 7 miles we arrived in Villafranca Montes de Oca shortly after 11:00. We went to check into the albergue and found that a room was available in the hotel. This was the nicest and most appointed place we had encountered so far.

So with an early check in and a hotel room, it gave Becky and I the time and privacy to do something for the first time in two weeks; nap.

So with an hour and a half nap and eight more hours of deep sleep, we were ready to start today’s 12 mile hike. It started off in a fog that lifted mid morning. No services were available for the first seven miles.

We finally came upon a bar next to the church and stopped for coffee and a snack. We also celebrated a milestone as we had just hit 167 miles since St Jean; 1/3 completed!

We continued on to our daily destination of Atapuerca.

We stopped to rest and admire some wall art and a passerby offered to take our picture.

Entering Atapuerca there is a site where one of the oldest human remains have been found

We soon arrived at one of the most “rustic” Albergues yet. Becky is telling me there are a lot more hotels in our future.

We set another record today as well. We have started a daily ritual of reminding each other we still love one another. Neither of us are quite in the mood until about 10:30 in the morning. But today started off so well I took a chance and said “ I love you babe” and a little bit to my surprise I received the “love you too hon” back right away. The time was 8:33, a record that may stand for awhile.

So tomorrow is Burgos and two Zero days to follow.