A few years ago, Denver hosted the Women’s US Open in Golf.  Nancy and I went to see it on the final round.  While watching women play golf at the highest level, it dawned on me that women seem to use a different strategy than men.  Let’s say a man puts his drive onto the rough.  It the grass is a bit high, I’ve seen men attempt to power their shot through the grass thinking they can still reach the green on their approach shot.  Sometimes it works, often times it leads to disaster.  Women golfers with their ball in a similar location will not even attempt to power their way through the rough.  Instead, they simply put the ball back on the fairway and then make a great shot to the green…..

On day two of our Camino, we walked 19.5 kilometers through a steady, cold breeze with rain.  The temperature in the high 30’s to early 40’s Fahrenheit.  It was a miserable day of hiking.  Nancy was complaining of her knee and Andrea of her hip.  We reached Hontanas by 1330 in the afternoon but they were done for the day.  I was getting frustrated thinking that they were going to “slow me down.”  I wanted to slog through.  I wanted to power my way through the rough.  I was thinking men’s golf when I should have been thinking women’s golf.  It’s much smarter.

We stayed at a very nice alberque in Hontanas, the “El Puntido.”  There were 5 bunk beds and one single in our room.  The cost was only 5 euros.  We had an excellent pilgrim’s meal in the evening for 9 euros each.  It was too much food!  That’s one thing we’re quickly finding on the Camino.  People can eat very well for a very reasonable price as pilgrims.

Nancy could tell I was frustrated by our second day on the road.  I started thinking
“women’s golf.”  I went ahead and booked a private alberque in Itero de la Vega which was 22.5 kilometers away.  Granted, that was 3 kilometers further than day 2.  However, I also booked a service in which Nancy’s and Andrea’s backpacks were sent to the alberque in Itero de la Vega.  That meant they were not carrying anything but their trekking poles.  I also made two leisurely stops for cafe con leche and spanish tortillas in Castrojeriz.  The strategy worked beautifully.  Although they’re sore and aching, the fact that they didn’t have to carry their backpacks plus the private alberque in which the three of us only have our own room and our own beds, made them feel 100 times better.  Women’s golf, playing smart.

I will attempt to load a few pictures and make another post tomorrow.  As for me, my lower back is killing me and my feet and ankles are swollen and killing me.  I’m still thinking men’s golf.  I’m still trying to power through the rough.  I hope I figure this out quickly!

Leaving Hontanas Sunday morning in the cold rain.

Leaving Hontanas Sunday morning in the cold rain.

 

Castrojeriz with it's castle ruins on top of the hill and old church in the center of town.

Castrojeriz with it’s castle ruins on top of the hill and old church in the center of town.

 

Overlook of Castrojeriz after making the steep climb to the top of the Meseta

Overlook of Castrojeriz after making the steep climb to the top of the Meseta

 

The ancient bridge that allows us to cross the Rio Pisuerga. We leave the Province of Burgos and enter the Province of Palencia.

The ancient bridge that allows us to cross the Rio Pisuerga. We leave the Province of Burgos and enter the Province of Palencia.