LIVE from the Camino The Meseta lived up to its reputation today.

[jgpryde]

Busy day on the Meseta

• jgpryde
• May 21, 2017
• 1

At about an hour out of Carrion de los Condes

It was a dry, flat and long walk between Carrion de los Condes and Calzadilla de la Crueza with nothing but farm crops and windmills in the distance... and a few pilgrims.

One option for the Meseta

• jgpryde
• May 21, 2017
• 6

An enterprising man with a strong smelling cigar passed me on the Meseta.

Some chose the alternative transportation option.

I was turned away at the only two alburgues in Villacazar yesterday afternoon and had to walk the extra 5 km to Carrion where my only option left was a 25€ single room.

Fortunately, by keeping today short (18km), I think I let the current pilgrim surge pass me by.

The Camino is filling up. It's still good though.

Buen Camino
-jgp

 

[jo webber]

What city or town do I rent a spot on that wagon?
Looks like a great way to travel some miles.

 

[nycwalking]

Love the meseta. Thanks for post.
Buen camino.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Absolutely loved that strech, with a big blue sky and a few crops. Mind you, noone to be seen in front or behind me when I walked. I never new the meaning of "big sky" until that day. Made me want to visit Montana.

Now, the buggy? Really? It is all flat people and straight. It does not get any easier.

If I ever walk there again I may bring a few nails to punch the buggy's wheels.

 

[jgpryde]

What city or town do I rent a spot on that wagon?
Looks like a great way to travel some miles.

I saw it advertised on a poster in Carrion de los Condes. I didn't note the details. There are tourist information offices in town which would have that information I believe.
Jgp

 

[newfydog]

If I ever walk there again I may bring a few nails to punch the buggy's wheels.

That buggy us a great tribute to the traditions if the medieval pilgrims. The pilgrims who could ride, did.

 

[jgpryde]

...

Now, the buggy? Really? It is all flat people and straight. It does not get any easier.

If I ever walk there again I may bring a few nails to punch the buggy's wheels.

I agree with you about checking out our own big sky territory sometime.

But I caution against trying to fit all peregrinos into your interpretation of the Camino. I'm only half way through and I've seen baby strollers, electric wheel chairs, runners, and people using their walking poles as crutches essentially. The Camino is a much more diverse activity than I expected.

-jgp

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Why? Because again we are usig the 1 person out of not 10, not a hindred, not a thousand, bit perhaps of 10k, or 50k, who may need transport, to cater to those who think they need help with their back back and what ever else new sort of catering theor might be out there.

Will never forget on my first C., the lady with terminal cancer walking up, and down, from SJPP to Roncesvalles. Not only was she terminally ill, but she was morbidly obese.

I was ome of the last people to make ot to the albergue, and when people enquired about her, and asked that some be sent for her, the hospies didn't blink.

In Puente la Reina her "friend" kept complaining that she was trying to "help" her, to arrange beds for her, and that the cancer patient "was not appreciative".

Really?

The last thing the cancer patient needed, and wanted, was a micro manager of her health and body, or lack thereof. She wanted to live every second she had left on earth to its full extend, not with buggies, not with people fussing, just experiencing what ever life she still had in her.

I never saw her after that. And I don't think she ever cared she had not kept up with my pace.

May she rest in peace.

 

[John Sikora]

Truly loved/hated the Meseta. Can't wait to walk it again. Heading off next week or so to walk Offa's dyke in the UK and I'll bet I'll be longing for nice flat open stretches very soon. I did find the Meseta hard, not that the walking was difficult but your mind wanders. It really is a good test of focus.

 

[Deleted member 36903]

Heading off next week or so to walk Offa's dyke in the UK and I'll bet I'll be longing for nice flat open stretches very soon.

@John Sikora if you are heading in that direction, might you have time to also walk the Malvern Hills? Quite a different experience from the Meseta, I remember that two days after doing the walk of the hills my knees felt as if they had disintegrated. Enjoy your walk!

 

[JulieandPeter]

Why? Because again we are usig the 1 person out of not 10, not a hindred, not a thousand, bit perhaps of 10k, or 50k, who may need transport, to cater to those who think they need help with their back back and what ever else new sort of catering theor might be out there.

Will never forget on my first C., the lady with terminal cancer walking up, and down, from SJPP to Roncesvalles. Not only was she terminally ill, but she was morbidly obese.

I was ome of the last people to make ot to the albergue, and when people enquired about her, and asked that some be sent for her, the hospies didn't blink.

In Puente la Reina her "friend" kept complaining that she was trying to "help" her, to arrange beds for her, and that the cancer patient "was not appreciative".

Really?

The last thing the cancer patient needed, and wanted, was a micro manager of her health and body, or lack thereof. She wanted to live every second she had left on earth to its full extend, not with buggies, not with people fussing, just experiencing what ever life she still had in her.

I never saw her after that. And I don't think she ever cared she had not kept up with my pace.

May she rest in peace.

I deleted my post asking why you would pop someone's tires with nails because I did not want to be part of another silly, un-Camino like argument that may give visitors here the wrong idea about the Camino.

However, I genuinely appreciate your answer as far as "micro managing" a terminal cancer patient's walk. Excellent point which I will keep in mind as we walk. Thank you for that. Best of luck to you.

 

[John Sikora]

Probably won't because after hiking Offas's Dyke, I'm headed up to walk Hadrian's wall. I'll have to catch the Malvern Hills the next time around. Thanks for the suggestion, however.

 

[newfydog]

The other great thing about the buggy is that it is one more local Spanish person finding employment by helping the pilgrims. What right do foreign tourists have to be critical of that?

 

[NicP]

Great photos @jgpryde - they certainly give a flavour of the traffic out there. I've never walked on the messeta, but did enjoy the challenges of some of the long, flat paths on the Via de la Plata - one stretch in particular seems to stand out in my mind, somewhere after Villafranco de Los Barros I think.

Walking a dead straight path for kilometre after kilometre certainly does present certain mental challenges that seem greater than what they otherwise might be, if they were along more geographically varied terrain. As you say @John Sikora - it is a good test of the mind to keep oneself on track. Perhaps that's the best part - with the road being less challenging, it gives one a chance to follow the wandering of one's mind, and see where that leads?

 

[trecile]

You know what I liked about that long stretch from Carrion de los Condes? I loved that I could see so many pilgrims at once. I had been walking sola, or just with a couple of other people, and not seeing a lot of pilgrims at once in the earlier part of the Meseta. I liked the feeling of camaraderie, as I saw pilgrims that I had met before, and met new ones.

 

[Felipe]

So, are they buggygrinos?

 

[Colette Z]

Absolutely loved that strech, with a big blue sky and a few crops. Mind you, noone to be seen in front or behind me when I walked. I never new the meaning of "big sky" until that day. Made me want to visit Montana.

Now, the buggy? Really? It is all flat people and straight. It does not get any easier.

If I ever walk there again I may bring a few nails to punch the buggy's wheels.

The Meseta was glorious in March this year, no rain, mega sun and only a few hours one day with significant wind but not intolerable. I also don't get people who taxi or bus this section. I had my first deep spiritual moment on the Meseta - a wouldn't miss it!

 

[JMac TO]

Busy day on the Meseta

• jgpryde
• May 21, 2017
• 1

At about an hour out of Carrion de los Condes

It was a dry, flat and long walk between Carrion de los Condes and Calzadilla de la Crueza with nothing but farm crops and windmills in the distance... and a few pilgrims.

One option for the Meseta

• jgpryde
• May 21, 2017
• 6

An enterprising man with a strong smelling cigar passed me on the Meseta.

Some chose the alternative transportation option.

I was turned away at the only two alburgues in Villacazar yesterday afternoon and had to walk the extra 5 km to Carrion where my only option left was a 25€ single room.

Fortunately, by keeping today short (18km), I think I let the current pilgrim surge pass me by.

The Camino is filling up. It's still good though.

Buen Camino
-jgp

It was a hot one on the Meseta today. Bring plenty of sunscreen and cover up. 3 water bottles for me. A small bottle of bug repellent would have been useful today as well.

 

[KinkyOne]

The Meseta was glorious in March this year, no rain, mega sun and only a few hours one day with significant wind but not intolerable. I also don't get people who taxi or bus this section. I had my first deep spiritual moment on the Meseta - a wouldn't miss it!

I like those who take bus or taxi's through Meseta. I'm very egoistic about Meseta. I like to have it just for myself

 

[Richmond Gardner]

Truly loved/hated the Meseta. Can't wait to walk it again. Heading off next week or so to walk Offa's dyke in the UK and I'll bet I'll be longing for nice flat open stretches very soon. I did find the Meseta hard, not that the walking was difficult but your mind wanders. It really is a good test of focus.

I found my wandering Meseta mind was a really interesting part of the Camino!

 

[Waka]

Probably won't because after hiking Offas's Dyke, I'm headed up to walk Hadrian's wall. I'll have to catch the Malvern Hills the next time around. Thanks for the suggestion, however.

You'll love Hadrian's wall, my good lady and I did it last year.
Whatever you do please make sure you don't arrive in Newcastle on a weekend, we unfortunately arrived on a Saturday and to top it off there was a football match on at the same time, after the peacefulness of the walk the crowds were just too much.

 

[RelEngOz]

I greatly value my time spent on the Meseta in August. I was still unfit, I developed a serious blister on the ball of one foot and I suffered severe dehydration in the heat. But it was an early trial for me to learn and overcome and ensured I could never say that el Camino was a walk in the park. Things only got better and my fitness had improved immensely before reaching Santiago. Best month of my life. Thanks to my sister Pauline who nursed me through.

Buen Camino peregrinos...

 

[Lee Howell]

Busy day on the Meseta

• jgpryde
• May 21, 2017
• 1

At about an hour out of Carrion de los Condes

It was a dry, flat and long walk between Carrion de los Condes and Calzadilla de la Crueza with nothing but farm crops and windmills in the distance... and a few pilgrims.

One option for the Meseta

• jgpryde
• May 21, 2017
• 6

An enterprising man with a strong smelling cigar passed me on the Meseta.

Some chose the alternative transportation option.

I was turned away at the only two alburgues in Villacazar yesterday afternoon and had to walk the extra 5 km to Carrion where my only option left was a 25€ single room.

Fortunately, by keeping today short (18km), I think I let the current pilgrim surge pass me by.

The Camino is filling up. It's still good though.

Buen Camino
-jgp

We were on the stretch after Castrojeriz near the flea fountain when a herd of 20 plus Winnabago came by. By the time we had walked to the chapel they had also arrived. After getting their "credential" stamped they were off for the next stop.

 

[Scott Sweeney]

Love the meseta. Thanks for post.
Buen camino.

Fell in love with it years ago. It is the first place and time I expierenced complete quiet.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

We were on the stretch after Castrojeriz near the flea fountain when a herd of 20 plus Winnabago came by. By the time we had walked to the chapel they had also arrived. After getting their "credential" stamped they were off for the next stop.View attachment 34184

I wonder if they "circle up" at night time in case they get attacked?

"It's quiet out there tonight . . . "
"Yep, too darn quiet."
Suddenly there's a doiiiiing sound and a flaming Leki pole flies through the air and lodges in a front tyre.

Would love to do the Camino in my old VW camper (NOT as a pilgrim) but fear it wouldn't make it up O'Ceb