091909 Day Six

Haven´t seen a computer in days. I am a bit behind and am currently using the oldest computer in Spain, a Dell Optiplex GX110 (lame). It has a keyboard that is just down right nasty (its kinda sticky). I am sure it is encrusted with Swine Flu and it defintely smells like old ham. (I feel so dirty. I am just going to take one for the team. The story must be told. ;) )

Well, I left Ages in the darkeness of the early morning before my German friends. They soon caught up to me. My feet were still as hard as rocks. We walked together until after the very small city of Atapuerca until we came upon the small mountain Alto Cruciero, 1080 meters. At this point I pulled away. (Because my cowboy legs dig the climb, hate the down hill, but dig the climb.) I left them sure that I would see them in Burgos. Interesting to note, in the caves outside of Atapuerca there has been found evidence of the earliest human presence in Europe, nice. Unfortunately, the museum was not open when we cruised by (sorry Xavier). (I did take pitures of the exterior of the museum which is cool.)

The terrain flattend out to my disappointment and I kept cruising. I came upon the nice older french woman from Belorado, the woman with the 5 American granchildren and the 73 year old lady who does not speak. (I am sure she is a retired ninja.) I bid them a ¨Bien Camino¨ and I moved on ahead passing them. Much latter down the line I determined that I had took a wrong turn and had to double back about 50 meters. At this point I encountered the retired ninja lady. Using hand gestures and speaking very loudly in broken spanish and english (like it helps) I managed to get us both set off in the right direction. (My inner boy scout was very proud of himself). The retired ninja was short (as all ninjas are) and in her face there was a remarkable appearance of both strength and serenity. Behind spectacles she had very dark eyes which had a piercing look about them. Anyway I walked a head keeping her close behind in case she needed something or spoke (because I swear she was mute). (And I am not being nasty here she just never spoke.) Eventually, going by the Burgos airport, I pulled away conveniced she wasn´t a retired ninja after all she was just a very tough, determined, quiet old lady. Right around this time to my surprise I was past by a short Japanes rocker dude (I kid you not) carrying not only his back pack but a freakin guitar in his left hand. (I am thinking, dude you are nuts. I guess he´s lucky he doesn´t play the drums or the piano. What ever dude?) I reached the out edge of Burgos and came upon a fountain which was awesome because I was out of water and very tired. At this time to my surprise the little old french lady smoked past me and I lost her. (What the hell?) For whatever reason this fired me up. Long story short, I ended up catching her again and we navigated the city together getting lost going by the Cathedral (which is freakin amazing). The city was crazy. There was traffic, some freakin protest (Free James Brown), pedestrians, buses, and several weddings. The little lady offerred to buy me bread (she finally spoke, I win) but I said she didn´t have to (a gin and tonic yes, bread no.) After navigating through several wedding receptions (when the bride and groom exit the church) and being pelted with rice and confetti at least twice and being subjected to the sound of fireworks which sounded like cannon fire at close range (it sounded like Baghdad) we found the albergue. Seriously tired, I ended up getting a top bunk as it turns out over top of the 73 year old french lady. I passed out in a heap and then got up later, cleaned, tended to my feet, and then went out to look for a pharmacy. I will try to wrap this up. I went into the plaza mayor ate the beef combination platter (beef consume, beef steaks, beef sausage, and a vanilla popcicle which tasted strangely like beef) at a local restaurante and drank wine in the afternoon sun. Im´d my brother to tell he was a loser then checked out the Catherdral (still amazing), found an italian ice cream stand (had two, they were awesone), and found two canadians from Barrie Ontario a father and son (go figure). Us Barre/Barrie folk shared a bottle of wine. Later I watched a weird artsy performance in the plaza mayor and then went to bed. (Stayed out way too late) The little french later was already out. Tomorrow off to Hornillos and into the Meseta (looks like cowboy country). Peace Out.