Abuela on the meseta

[Caminomary525]

After walking Roncevalles to Logrono at age 68 in 2013, Logrono to Burgos in 2014 and Sarria to Santiago in 2015 to be with St. James on my 70th birthday, I want to go back to the Camino and do stretches I haven't walked before. I hope to walk from Burgos to Sahagun in October. The sparseness of the meseta has me a trifle concerned. So

1) is there mochila transport on the meseta?

2) if I don't want to do the 17.5 km between Carrion de los Condes and Calzadilla de la Cueza, is a ride hard to arrange? Bus or taxi?

 

[jpflavin1]

Caminomary525:

There is pack transport the entire Frances and also bus and/or taxi service. That said, I think you will be missing a beautiful part of the Camino.

Ultreya,
Joe

 

[mspath]

There are transport services on the Meseta such as the Spanish Post Office/Correos or Jacotrans.

There is no bus between Carrion de los Condes and Calzadilla de la Cueza but you could arrange a taxi at
Carrion de los Condes.

Following an old Roman road, the Via Trajana, part of this perfectly straight section of Camino is paved. 2004 when I first walked there was nothing but fields of grain and me. Lonesome I waved to a tractor across the distant fields. After 16 km which seemed endless I reached the tiny hamlet of Calzadilla de la Cueza. I stopped at the pleasant, private albergue. Nearby was the only restaurant. A man eating at the table next to mine smiled. “Oh it’s you!” he said. He then explained to his wife that he had seen me earlier while riding his tractor. Small world, indeed!

Happy planning and Buen camino!

 

[donalomahony]

1 Yes

2 Last Summer there was a horse and carriage plying it's way early morning for Pilgrims who wanted to do it differently!

3 Taxi is no issue also

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

One of the things I enjoyed about the meseta going to Calzadilla de la Cueza was, after lots of wondering when we would get to the town, it just magically appeared. The road to there was level [Edit: bad memory on my part. See my next post below.] but the village is below your sight-line at the drop of a hill. You don't see it until you are there.

 

[jpflavin1]

One of the things I enjoyed about the meseta going to Calzadilla de la Cueza was, after lots of wondering when we would get to the town, it just magically appeared. The road to there was level but the village is below your sight-line at the drop of a hill. You don't see it until you are there.

Sounds like Hontanas

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Sounds like Hontanas

You got me wondering just how similar they were. I created elevation profiles. Looks like my memory is going on me. My remembered "level road" was about 16 km of 4% uphill grade.

 

[jpflavin1]

You got me wondering just how similar they were. I created elevation profiles. Looks like my memory is going on me. My remembered "level road" was about 16 km of 4% uphill grade.
View attachment 32883

Rick:

The only place I recall just appearing is Hontanas. It comes after San Bol, the hippie place. I remember it because it was a rainy, mud slog of a day and out of nowhere Hontanas appeared. You almost fall into it.

The section after Carrion is pretty flat and a long gap between towns with a picnic area about half way. That said, I am a senior citizen and have memory lapses on occasion.

Ultreya,
Joe

 

[John Sikora]

If you think you can, the walk through the mesetas is really nice (as long as you like straight roads and spares semi-arid). It's different from any other stretch. 17.5 is a good distance but the only hard part I found was just keeping my mind on track. The walk was easy but pretty boring. Thinking about the Roman legions walking this back in the early years really puts it into perspective. They didn't have a nice peregrino meal waiting for them.

 

[OTH86]

Hi @Caminomary525 ,
I avoided that stretch the first time I walked the Camino but the 2nd time, a year later on my 70th birthday, I walked from Carrion to Calzadilla, and wondered why I avoided it the first time. It was a nice day, a bit windy, clear after some morning showers. Not many people walking so lots of time for contemplative mind wandering. Now, 2 ½
years later I think the 20 km from Fromista to Carrion is MUCH less interesting! There ARE places to stop for food, cafe con leche, etc on that senda. But there are picnic tables in several sports along the senda between Carrion and Calzadilla. No real toilet facilities, however. There may be someone with a coffee stand along the way, but maybe not in October. It really is a nice walk, and I would suggest you think more about trying it. Or you could ask a taxi driver if he would consider taking you part way. Or share a taxi with other walkers, and ask to get out if you think you might enjoy the walk. I will be doing it again in late May, and am really forward to it!!
Buen Camino
Terry

 

[notion900]

The Meseta is just the best. So much sky.