Day 12 Villafranca - Ages

What a steep climb out of town!  but we manage fine.  My blister doen´t hurt so it must be on the mend.  The way is a rough, rocky track but it is easy to be distracted by the wildflowers - pink heather the height of our wild yellow broom, pale yellow primroses, violets, small pale yellow daffodils and wild strawberries in bloom.  We walk through pine forests and oak trees not yet showing signs of life and we can glimpse more wind turbines through the trees.  The wind is cool but the sun shines through.  We are about 1,000 to 1,100 meters above sea level.  The next village is called San Juan de Ortega (St. John of the Nettles).  It looks very clean and orderly - some of the houses even look new.  It is Sunday so everything is quiet except the cafe where we have our cafe con leche and a muffin.  San Juan is known for all of the good works he did to assist the medieval pilgrims.  On to Ages and the Municipal Auberge - 36 beds in one large dormitory - 2 showers and 2 toilets each for the men and the women and a washer and a dryer - bonus!  3€ to wash and 2€ to dry, about 6 or 7 dollars.  We arrived at 12:30 and by about 2:00 it is almost full!  We do laundry, shower and nap (we do a lot of that!).  Everyone in the dorm is having a siesta, as though they are resting up for the big day tomorrow - the city of Burgos is on the horizon.  While we were having our pizza dinner in the cafe two young boys from Spain came in.  They belong to an association that spends their Sunday biking a section of the Camino. Tomorrow there is no school so they are spending an extra day on "the Way".  Back to our dorm and hopefully it will be a quiet night!  A Happy Mother´s Day to all!  Buen Camino!