Carrion Los Condes and Terradillos de Los Templarios

It was pretty chilly today, sonwalking was brisk and bars to escape the freezing wind were gratefully found ( and stayed in longer than need be ) 

Our first stop was the beautiful Inglsia Santa Maria  in Carrion Los Condes where we lit a candle for Age and had a few moments of reflection on our journey so far.

Our stop for the night was once a stronghold for the knights templar, but now its a dirty run down rural village with a population of 70.. When the Albergue is full ( like it was tonight, ) that number doubles.

Jacques de Molay was the 23rd and last Grand master of the Order of the Knights Templar. The Albergue is stil loosely run under templar traditions and I admit it has a hospitable and calm environment, despite the amount of prople here.

I went to visit the church which the templars had built, mainly to see the 12 th century cross which is apparently very unusual.. But I never got to find out whatveas unusual about it as the doirs were securely locked.

Its a freezing night, with forecasts of sleet  tomorrow.. Ilk

Santa Maria Temple in Villalcazar De Sirga

Santa Maria Temple in Villalcazar De Sirga is one of the most important Knights Templar temples still surviving.

What is left is only half of what was built in the 1100s and used to back onto the knights castle - now destroyed. 

The important features I wanted to was the carving of the knight at the entrance as well as the life and death medieval paintings of St  James.

It is believed that after he was Martyred, St James body was transported along what is now the camino, to be laid to rest at Santiago. 

To Villalcazar De Sirga

As my alarm went off at 5.30 am, I could only empathise with Michael, who for the past 5 months has been woken at this time for our daily catch up chat. Words cant express the gratitude I have for his dedicated friendship, advice and support the whole time- especially at such a disgusting hour of the day.

I gently rolled the kids off thier matresses and pulled each into a semblance of wakefulness. As I stacked the mattresses along the hallway, the first of the 'late risers' came in for breakfast. The more serious ones has already left predawn.. 

It did come as some sense of smugness to be walking out of Fromista as the sun was still rising. Its orange rays set a beautiful glow along the track.

It was pretty cold, so the kids opted to stay in their onsies.

The first four km was along the highway, souless and hard on the feet as the path was concrete and unforgiving.

The wheatfields still roll out beyond the horizon, but vineyards are once agsin popping up.

We made pretty good time , making 15 km before 2. We are booked in to a traditional  Pilgrims Albergue, with squeeky beds( but it has blankets!!) a place to put money to make the showers go and a donation box to pay for your stay. Its clean... And really thats all that counts. It is a shame we havent had wifi much, and its been frustrating that my phone has refused to pick up the spanish network - plus I cant get onto my carrier in the UK to sort it out.. Ahh well.

An abandoned monestry along the way.