092109 Day Eight

Location: Itero de la Vega
Date: 092209, 3:13 PM

Left Hornillos early in the morning at dark, 7:00 AM. Even so I was one of the last to leave. We are now heading into the very desolate parts of the meseta land and no one wants to miss an albergue as they are stretched too far apart and there really is no bus or taxi service to speak of. For example Hornillos has a population of 100 people and the next albergue in San Bol has no population except for the albergue. I decided I would shoot for Hontanas and stay there. It was 10.8 kilometers away in the middle of the meseta. The morning was cool with a constant breeze and the meseta I climbed was 950 meters. The down hill was a beotch! I pretty much walked alone with nothing but the constant wind as my company. The land is not life less but there is nothing out here, (jack squat). I enjoyed the climb as I always do and about 3.5 hours later of non-stop walking I was perplexed. Hornillos had vanished. It simply was not there. By my reckoning I should be there or at least be seeing it. I continued to walk and as if by miracle the trail descended opening into a small cut of a valley and there before me was the church clock tower and pueblo of Hontanas (very wild). I walked into town stopping at the first albergue next to the church 10 meters from the second albergue in the town and proceded to eat. I had 2 huge sanwiches with egg, a cup of cafe con leche, and a glass of wine all before 10:30 AM (breakfast of champions, I say). I then enjoyed the sitting in the sun in what was now turing out to a very sunny albeit blustery day. As soon as possible I grabbed the now seemingly ultra-modern computer as compared to the one I am using now and then the unthinkable happened (and I didn´t even know it). I lost my wallet!!!!

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