Our day started with a short walk across what must have been marshy ground as we walked alongside an old Roman causeway. We crossed over the stream with a good bridge and then faced a 120 metre climb.
Fortunately the gradient was fairly mild and we were steadily at the top with a great view back to Castrojeriz.
From the top of Alto de Mostelares looking the other way out to the west there was a great landscape to enjoy.
Very shortly after the top we descended quickly, well slowly and carefully, down an 18% gradient. From then on we had a rolling countryside walk.
As we walk along the landscape slowly unfolds before us. It is never clear where the way will go. We had an enjoyable discussion about where we were to go through these small hills. It turned out to be the gap on the left.
There has been no rain to speak of but it clearly had rained hard last night as the roads were muddy and full of puddles. We felt right at home with this terrain. At one point we started to get warm so Beryl decided to take off her fleece. It immediately started hailing but thankfully for only a short while.
There were plenty of irrigation channels and some fields being irrigated. We suddenly came across a large canal with a pleasure boat disappearing in the distance. This is the Canal de Castilla which was started in the mid 18th century. It was planned to transport goods to and from Santander on the coast but never actually got that far.
The railways in the late 19th century did for the canal and it was closed to traffic in the beginning of the 20th century. The canal is still used for moving water around for irrigation purposes.
We were diverted off the canal path by large construction works which we had to cross away from the canal. This is yet further rail development but this time a high speed line up to Santander. Comparisons with UK high speed rail come to mind.
We eventually arrived in Frómista. This has been our longest day so far this year at 26 km. Despite the distance we found our walking speed increasing as our legs loosen up. Good to arrive and not be too exhausted.
We visited the church of San Martín which was originally constructed in 20 years from 1066. It was in a great state of of disrepair until restored at the end of the 19th century. The church is now a National Monument as a well preserved Romanesque building. It is most beautiful.
Julian and Beryl's camino 