El Burgo Ranero

An early morning chill prompted us to wear layers as we left Sahagun for El Burgo Ranero. A young walker from Minnesota, Liz, walked with us for a while. She's walking the Camino before her return to the states after teaching English in Thailand and studying abroad in Spain.

A local artist's work

The landscape rolled gently, and patches of untilled dirt was interspersed with green fields. Hand painted Camino signage and rocks marked the path. 

This particular wild flower has appeared on the path for several days. 

At a morning bar break we met English walkers Graham and Laura, who had walked part of Camino Frances last year.

The open doors of Ermita de Virgen Perales -- the caretaker stamped our credentials.

Pilgrim memorial next to the path

An iron fence whimsically honors the Road.

It was getting warmer the last few kilometers into El Burgo Ranero, so we were glad to be near our destination.

We dubbed this water tower the "Leaning Tower of El Burgo Ranero"

Storks always have prime realty.

Our municipal albergue is an adobe building, which are common to this region. It's named after Domenico Laffi, a 17th c. Italian priest who traveled to Santiago 3 times & then wrote about his journeys. 

Old wood ceiling and adobe brick wall exposed

Close-up of the wall's mud and straw composition

La cena (dinner) with Graham and Laura