John Brierley cover photo

[Cathy G]

Can someone tell me where exactly in the Meseta the cover photo on Brierley's book is taken?

 

[Saint Mike II]

I was originally of the opinion that is was somewhere between Santo Domingo de Calzada and Belorado; but the meseta might be a better choice possibly half way down the Alto de Mostelares looking (over Itero) towards the Tierra de Campos (around Boadilla). But happy for someone to come up with a more accurate location. (I had a good look through the book and there is nothing to identify any of the photographs other than those well known sights.) Cheers

 

[rappahannock_rev]

Can someone tell me where exactly in the Meseta the cover photo on Brierley's book is taken?

Very glad you asked! I've wondered about that myself....

 

[RJM]

I will make a semi-educated guess of somewhere between Burgos and Hornillos.
Mr. Brierley, sir. If you are reading this, give us a clue.

 

[Theatregal]

In September 2012, walking with my dear friends Helen, John and Simon (all pictured), we think we identified the location between Ledigos and Moratinos. Helen had been keeping a look out for the spot and I'll never forget the shout from up ahead "I think I found it!". Interested to hear if others agree with us! I recently attended a Canadian Company of Pilgrims event and John Brierley was the guest speaker. I talked with him after and the cover location was a question I had meant to ask but forgot to!

 

[RJM]

In September 2012, walking with my dear friends Helen, John and Simon (all pictured), we think we identified the location between Ledigos and Moratinos. Helen had been keeping a look out for the spot and I'll never forget the shout from up ahead "I think I found it!". Interested to hear if others agree with us! I recently attended a Canadian Company of Pilgrims event and John Brierley was the guest speaker. I talked with him after and the cover location was a question I had meant to ask but forgot to!

Hmmm...could be. Not sure.
Comparison:

 

[Theatregal]

Hmmm...could be. Not sure.
Comparison:
View attachment 54090 View attachment 54091

Maybe compare the curves of the road. The pilgrim on the Brierley cover is standing closer to the curve than my pals in my photos. The landscape and the lines of the cultivated area above and to the right seem very close.

 

[RJM]

Maybe compare the curves of the road. The pilgrim on the Brierley cover is standing closer to the curve than my pals in my photos. The landscape and the lines of the cultivated area above and to the right seem very close.

The road curvature could be similar to so many places on the Camino.
I was thinking along the line of terrain features. Those two small distinct peaks on the ridgeline in the distance. That would be a unique terrain feature.

 

[Mark T17]

I think it is after crossing Alto de Mostelares, down on the flat. Check the top left corner of my photo.

 

[Theatregal]

My last bit of evidence in support of our location On page 163 in the Brierley (2011 edition) there is a photo at the bottom of the page that shows the same location.



Upper right in this photo there are 3 features - A taller full tree, a skinny tree and a shorter bush. These show up on the Brierley cover as well. On the upper left of the page 163 photo there is very tall tree. All of these features are in this enlarged part of my photo.

 

[rappahannock_rev]

Not bad, Theatregal !

I checked my 2012 edition, page 163 -- and my 2018 edition, too, where the 2012 picture appears on page 164.... I was skeptical of your suggestion at first, but the more I think about it the more plausible it seems! But that raises the question of WHERE between Ledigos and Moratinos?!

BTW - Brierley 2012 offered us just one ('gold dot') route between them, but Brierley 2018 offers an alternate ('green dot') Ledigos-Terradillos route. I assume that in 2012 you walked the 'gold dot' route?

 

[RJM]

My last bit of evidence in support of our location On page 163 in the Brierley (2011 edition) there is a photo at the bottom of the page that shows the same location.

View attachment 54094

Upper right in this photo there are 3 features - A taller full tree, a skinny tree and a shorter bush. These show up on the Brierley cover as well. On the upper left of the page 163 photo there is very tall tree. All of these features are in this enlarged part of my photo.
View attachment 54095

Hmmm.....I believe you pilgrims were spot on. Good detective work.

 

[Theatregal]

Not bad, Theatregal !

I checked my 2012 edition, page 163 -- and my 2018 edition, too, where the 2012 picture appears on page 164.... I was skeptical of your suggestion at first, but the more I think about it the more plausible it seems! But that raises the question of WHERE between Ledigos and Moratinos?!

BTW - Brierley 2012 offered us just one ('gold dot') route between them, but Brierley 2018 offers an alternate ('green dot') Ledigos-Terradillos route. I assume that in 2012 you walked the 'gold dot' route?

Looking at the timeline of my photos, it has to be between Terradillos and Moratinos - so somewhere in the 3km or so between. Yes, we walked the 'gold dot' route in 2012.

 

[rappahannock_rev]

I'll be walking that way in September -- and will let the Forum know what I see....

 

[Karl Oz]

That was a very good question, I have often wondered about that myself. We will now wait for a report from Revley in September, providing no one preempts him.

 

[Saint Mike II]

Wow - we sure do have some keen detectives on the forum. The more I look at the photo I agree that Ledigos to Sahagun is a possibility. If you know that most of these photos are taken in Spring or early Summer when the grain crops are high and green it helps with location. (John and his daughter do their walks in April and May, as I understand it). The reason I punted for the Itero area is that line of hills in the Western distance.. I have travelled this section in Sept and May and in May it was very green and wet. But hey unless John comes on line I doubt we will truly pin it down. Cheers

 

[peregrino_tom]

After Castrojeriz you climb up to the Alto de Mostelares. As you look west it seems as if the flat plain goes on forever. But after a few kms it dips and you go downhill. This pic was taken shortly after reaching the bottom, still a few km from reaching the Ermita de San Nicolas.

 

[Saint Mike II]

After Castrojeriz you climb up to the Alto de Mostelares. As you look west it seems as if the flat plain goes on forever. But after a few kms it dips and you go downhill. This pic was taken shortly after reaching the bottom, still a few km from reaching the Ermita de San Nicolas.

Hola Tom, that was my thinking when I made my first post. I will search through my photos. I have one taken from the top, looking west. It might help.

This the photo taken from the top of Castro; Alto de Mostelares. Cheers

 

[Mick Beede]

After Castrojeriz you climb up to the Alto de Mostelares. As you look west it seems as if the flat plain goes on forever. But after a few kms it dips and you go downhill. This pic was taken shortly after reaching the bottom, still a few km from reaching the Ermita de San Nicolas.

I think you’re spot on Tom

 

[RJM]

My last bit of evidence in support of our location On page 163 in the Brierley (2011 edition) there is a photo at the bottom of the page that shows the same location.

View attachment 54094

Upper right in this photo there are 3 features - A taller full tree, a skinny tree and a shorter bush. These show up on the Brierley cover as well. On the upper left of the page 163 photo there is very tall tree. All of these features are in this enlarged part of my photo.
View attachment 54095

Those trees match exactly to the ones in the guidebook as does their proximity to the ridge line and the ridge line itself. Pretty much nails it down.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

This looks like Brierley's cover also.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/camino-photos/ledigos-to-sahagun.4736/

And checkout this thread: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/a-photo-from-my-2014-camino.67425/