Burgos to León – Camino Francés
Hello pilgrims. My return to the Camino is creeping up on me and time is passing me by. It feels like only yesterday when I arrived home from Santiago in April. Although I won’t be walking to Santiago this time around, it will be good to be walking on hallowed ground and meeting fellow pilgrims. I have been particularly busy also so it will feel good to switch off come the 14th of September.
So why walk the Meseta again?
A very good question. This is not the first time I have walked this particular section, I first walked from Burgos in 2013 and again in 2015, 2017 and 2021. So I enjoy the peace and solitude that this 200km stretch gives. I had no great will to walk a new Camino this year – I am leaving 2024 for something new (more about that later). So walking the Meseta just made sense.
Burgos and beyond
I arrive into Burgos at 2pm on the 15th of September and after some food and a visit to the Cathedral, I will walk on. Tardajos will be my destination for the evening. I have stayed in Burgos many times and I know I will stay in Burgos again. That’s a guarantee. So I will walk into the evening and it may be 5pm before I arrive at my accommodation which I have reserved. From there, I will let my feet guide me and I hope for good weather.
The journey is my destination
I hope to arrive in Léon on the 22nd of September. I have a flight from Madrid on the 23rd. If I don’t make it to Léon, it is not the end of the world and I can arrange something. Mansilla de las Mulas has a direct bus to Madrid as well as Léon. I have no destination on this Camino and while I will meet many pilgrims with Santiago on their minds, I will just follow the arrows and put one foot in front of the other.
Differences from 2022 / 6 years since Léon.
Oh my! I need to put on my Camino Francés head before I go. The Camino Portugués has a different attitude compared to the Camino Francés. It is much more relaxed. Albergues are open later and pilgrims don’t tend to leave as early as on the Camino Francés. I rarely left albergues before 7pm but on the Camino Francés, most pilgrims would be politely asked to leave at that time. I last walked the Camino Francés in 2021 and pre-booked most of my accomodation (due to Covid) so there was no great rush. Now, I have not reserved a thing bar my start and end albergues. With the popularity of the Camino in general this year, there may be a few early mornings.
I haven’t been in Léon since September 2017. It is a beautiful city. I remember walking possibly the shortest day ever when I with others walked from Arcahueja – a massive 8km! At least we arrived for breakfast. In 2013, I finished up a very enjoyable Camino there. Myself and my pilgrim friends ate just opposite the Cathedral. I remember waking up the next day wanting to walk on. It was purely natural. I instead took the train to Madrid vowing to return, while my pilgrim buddies walked to Santiago. I won’t forget that year. It will be interesting to see Léon again.
I’m sure I will post again in the near future. I posted a video on YouTube today about my packing list. I would appreciate it if you could check it out.
Buen Camino!
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