Shifting Gears—Mud And Blood

Day 14  Burgos to Castrojeriz

Miles Today:  25.6 (Biking)

Total biking miles:   25.6

Elevation gain:  1050’

Descent:   1216’

Miles walking so far: 187.7

Total miles:  213.3

Get a bicycle. You will not regret it...if you live.         

        Mark Twain 

We shifted gears today and started our first of 4 days of biking. Our adventure started on some rocky footing as the rental bikes were to be delivered to our hotel at 8 am. After a couple of phone calls, they finally arrived about 8:45. Once we got the bikes adjusted and our gear for the day organized we finally hit the Camino about 9:30. 

We had concerns about biking in the city of Burgos (pop 180,000) starting in the heart of the downtown during rush hour. Our concerns were unwarranted as the traffic on the streets we travelled was very light and after 2-3 miles we were in the countryside. The lack of traffic here continues to be a welcome surprise.

Our biking adventure portion of the Camino is across the “Meseta”, which is Spanish for plateau and it is the high plains area of central Spain. I was not sure what to expect, but our miles today were mostly through fields of new wheat as far as the eye could see. We did have a few ups and downs but mostly it was fairly level...ideal for biking, mostly on gravel farm roads, a few narrow dirt and rocky paths, and one section along a very quiet country road near the end of the day. We had some mud left over from last evening’s downpours and a small bit of blood, but nothing serious.

I have done almost zero biking over the last 25 years, so this was a bit of a stretch for me, especially early on. 

Chum’s legs after first day of biking!

Here are my top ten takeaways after this biking revival:

1. Riding an exercise bike at home in your basement is NOT like riding on gravel roads, dirt single track, or the shoulder of a road.
2. It is a whole LOT colder riding a bike than it is walking.
3. Human arms were improperly designed...they need shock absorbers at the wrists, elbows, and shoulder joints.
4. You see a lot less of the countryside, the scenery, and the culture while biking versus walking.
5. Biking uses different muscles than walking. I am sorer and more tired this evening than after the first 188 miles of walking.
6. Bike seats were designed by someone that really hates bikers.
7. On steep hills, bikes actually prefer to be walked.
8. When biking, one takes a whole lot less photographs.
9. Trying to bike on steep hills is slower than walking.
10. Bikes can bite, resulting in blood.