The camino heading out from Villarmentero was another one of the pilgrim autopistas, but we found a slightly longer alternative that took us along a canal through farmland for several kilometers.
Once that ended, we were back along the side of the highway for the rest of the way into Carrion de los Condes. Once again, we saw our friends with the two donkeys. The animals moved at a good clip, and the two pilgrims walking with them had to really move to keep up.
We stopped in Carrion de los Condes for a cool drink and some food to go, then continued westward. For several km the camino was on a rural road, then switched to dirt. The terrain was flat and relatively featureless, the road was straight and seemed to go forever. We were hoping to reach a spring indicated on our maps before stopping to eat the sandwiches we'd brought along. As we approached, we saw what appeared to be a mirage to our hot and thirsty eyes, but turned out to be a van selling cool drinks and ice cream. The perfect accompaniment for our lunch.
After our lunch stop and ice cream, it was only about 11 km more to our destination of Calzadilla de la Cueza. We were glad to arrive in the small village after 30 km of walking.
We got a room at the hostal in town, and enjoyed a cold beer while we waited for dinner (not served until 7:30). The people with the two donkeys were staying in the same place, and we decided to dine together. What a fascinating couple. She is an artist and choreographer; he is recently retired after many years heading the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France. We enjoyed great conversation and a couple of bottles of wine over a great dinner.
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