I left Belorado at 07:50 and navigated the rest of the town through the dark. On the way out of town, I saw a Repsol gas station. I got a 1.5 jug of water that would last me for the coming day.
I passed through Tosantos, which is known for having a chapel in the side of a cliff. I then walked through the hamlets of Villambistia and Espinosa del Camino. Then it was a steady climb to Villafranca Montes de Oca, which was half hidden by the clouds. The road through the town is tight, with some buildings occupying the shoulder of the road at spots. Trucks were literally flying through the town on N-120, coming within a few feet of hitting houses. I sat on a bench for awhile to rest in Villafranca Montes de Oca. I was quickly surrounded by a dozen cats looking for food I think!
Unbeknownst to me, the real climb came after Villafranca Montes de Oca. It was a steep climb out of town through the forest. The path then follows a firebreak at the crest of the hills. The path was muddy and had me dragging a few extra pounds of mud on each foot. Finally, the Camino de Santiago descended down into the hamlet of San Juan de Ortega. From there, it was a relatively easy 3.6 kilometers into Ages. I passed through a field of cattle on the last leg.
I checked into the municipal albergue in Ages at 15:45. It is located above a bar and restaurant called La Taberna. I was the first person there, but eight more backpackers showed up later. One of them was Alesandro. He is a vegan and was hoping there was an open grocery store in town, but there was not, at least in the winter. Ages is a very small town, and La Taberna was the only place to eat in town. I had patatas bravas and an egg tortilla for dinner, along with three beers. I watched the local people in the bar, then went to bed early.
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| Walking into Villambistia. |
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| Swarmed by cats. |
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| Walking through a field of indifferent cattle. |
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| Ages. |
