22/4/13 Torremegia ➡ Merida 16.1km

22/4/13 Torremegia ➡ Merida 16.1km

Not much to say today. Good terrain.

Walked with Jurgen today and we stopped to chat to the local farmers. 

Well Jurgen did the chatting, I did the nodding and then we were on our way. 

My right heel managed to acquire a blister today !!

Definitely a rest tomorrow in Merida.

As I was walking back from lunch, yes we finally made it to a town for lunch, I did the biggest stack! Have a bruised hand ( read: very small can hardly see it ) so I was very lucky it wasn't any worse.

I tripped over my beautiful pilgrim sandals.  How I didn't break anything is beyond me. 

As I picked myself up off the ground, I don't think my stack had any witnesses, I realised I am tired and we are definitely due a rest day. I came back to the Albergue and had an impromptu siesta.  

Tonight we say goodbye to our friends as they continue on their way.

A selection of photos from the Albergue we stayed in last night and some more wine shots with the local farmers.

Cristy and I will really miss Giovanni, Brigette and Gunter. They have made the first part of our trip so enjoyable.

Beautiful Day on the frog and toad !

21/4/13 Villafranca de Los Barros ➡ Torremegia 28km

21/4/13  Villafranca de Los Barros ➡ Torremegia 28km

Big day today, so on the road by 7.05am.

Absolutely beautiful sunrise this morning. 

Again my friend the cuckoo has deserted me.

Today was hard going as it was straight the whole way. Everyone, except me hated it.           I actually like this straight walking as I get into a rhythm and let my mind wander wherever it wants to go.  I guess 28km of straight road is a little boring!

I was thinking about all that we have achieved so far. We have walked for 8 days  straight and so far covered over 190km, by tomorrow we will have hit the 200km mark.

 Our little party of now 5 is hurting. Each of us has aches and pains in different body regions. It's so funny to see all the pilgrims do the shuffle. For all those past pilgrims you will know what I'm talking about. The moans and groans when you sit or stand for too long. The grunts and exertion it takes you to bend  over and pick up something you have dropped. Each pilgrim makes a different noise, but all the others nod and sympathise.

We have 16 km to do tomorrow and that brings us into Merida. We will probably say goodbye to Gunter, Bridgette and Giovanni here as we do need a rest day. I will be so sad to say goodbye but I am so thankful that we have been able to spend this time with these fabulous people. 

Our dinner last night made from the wild fennel collected on the way was fantastic. I think it was the best risotto I have had. We had a table of 9 last night and we did make quite a bit of noise. At one stage another pilgrim came out to tell us to be quiet. Well that worked for about 5 mins before we all were in fits of giggles.  Personally I think they were jealous they weren't having such fun  as we !! 

We have booked into this fantastic Albergue that has a bar and serves dinner so no super mercado shopping or trying to find food. We just go downstairs and we are fed and watered, then back up stairs to bed. Perfect, how much better can it get! 

20/4/13 Zafra ➡ Villafranca de Los Barros 20.7km

20/4/13 Zafra ➡ Villafranca de Los Barros 20.7km

Great Albergue last night and our pilgrim chefs Giovanni and Bridgette out did themselves.

Such a great bunch of people. We said goodbye to Jana yesterday as she has walked on and hello to Jurgen (Germany).

After a quick breakfast this morning we were on the road at around 7.15am. The mornings are so beautiful and the sun coming up is lovely. My friend the cuckoo was absent this morning so we must have been to early for him. On my last Camino I was greeted every morning by my friend the cuckoo.

Good terrain today and pretty scenery and we arrived by 12.30 so I think Cristy and I are getting a bit faster. We met Thea and Jan from Holland today with their wheelie contraption. They will be joining us for dinner tonight. Our chefs Giovanni & Bridgitte where collecting wild fennel along the way to make risotto.

There is nothing better than arriving at the Albergue, taking off your pack, boots and dirty clothes, having a shower and a lie down, pure bliss.

This Camino is different from the French Camino in that you do have to be much more prepared with food and water. On the French you can easily stop at many different towns for anything, but here once you leave town you have to wait to get to the next one. With big distances to sometimes cover it can be challenging. As Cristy and I get faster we may even make it into a town for a proper lunch, one of these days.

19/4/13 Calzadilla de Los Barros ➡ Zafra 19km

19/4/13 Calzadilla de Los Barros ➡ Zafra 19km

Today we renamed  this Camino The Via de la Agua.  We had so many rivers to cross.

We were up early, funny that, I'll have to use another expression soon as I think I say that in every post.

Off we went into the semi dark. The road this morning was quite pretty once we left town. 

As I am usually the last to arrive I came round the corner and Cristy was telling me to go back. The way was flooded and she was stuck in some reeds trying to back track.

I made a detour trying to see where the others were and ended  up in a big bunch of reeds and weeds. Cristy behind me I almost fell backwards with her pushing me forwards. I couldn't lift my legs over the reeds and was getting tangled.

We finally made it thru only to then have to cross this tiny bridge made with a branch. Giovanni and Bridgitte directing and using their walking poles to help us across.

After much laughter and sock wringing we were on the road again.

This post is sounding quite musical !

Another watery crossing, more laughter,more sock changing and off again.

Hence the Via de la Agua !

Wearrived safely at the Convent we are staying at and for €1.50 had our clothes washed in a real washing machine. Such luxury !!!!!!

We are eating in again tonight, something Vegan style as we have now lost Jana and gained Jurgen !

Adios for now!                                                                                  

18/4/13 Monesterio ➡ Calzadilla de Los Barros 26.9km

18/4/13 Monesterio ➡ Calzadilla de Los Barros  26.9km

OMG, OMG, OMG, the scenery was spectacular today !!!!!

Wow what a great day to have a birthday Cristy.

I have taken photos but they are just a pale shade of what this place was actually like.

We all got up at 6am today as we had a big 26.9km to tackle.

The Albergue in the next town was closed so we had to walk the extra 6km, which made Friday a shorter day, so all round a win,win.

I had forgotten what a god rhythm you can get into with walking. It is so peaceful at times and when you are struggling with a hill or a long stretch, your feet are burning, your back is aching, the sun is burning and the way seems endless, you take a little stop and look around and se the utter spectacular vista. 

It makes all those things fade into the background and it reminds you how lucky you are to be able to experience it all.

Remind me of this thought if in a few weeks if I'm bitching and moaning !!!

Cristy and I are making fairly good time, we are usually the last to arrive, but we get there.

We have decided to keep walking whilst we are both feeling ok. Blisters are healing and all my aches and pains are subsiding.

We stopped for a quick cerveza 6km before the finish, to toast Cristy, and bumped into Jana (Germany).

I did a quick blister fix on her feet as she is suffering badly from multiple blisters.

On we went to the next town and arrived to everyone either just booking in or sitting drinking cervazas.

This hostel had a restaurant so once we had decamped we were set for the night.

The pilgrims had gone into the town and bought Cristy a pilgrim present of compeeds, tape and a lip balm. She was so surprised. Can i just say we are walking with the nicest group of people, it's great and it certainly makes for a wonderful experience.

Feliz Compleanos Amiga !! 🎂🍻

17/4/13 El Real de la Jara ➡ Monesterio 20.7km

17/4/13 El Real de la Jara ➡ Monesterio 20.7km

Bit of a scramble out of the Albergue this morning 10 people and 1 bathroom. 

Some of the pilgrims fed us breakfast this morning, their left over yogurt and boiled eggs so that was nice. Stopped for a quick cortado ( macchiato  ) and we made it onto the road before 8am.

Beautiful walk today, very peaceful and lovely scenery.

This area we are now walking thru is called Extramadurra, we have left Sierra Norte so now the stone markers are different.

A couple of pit stops later and we were sitting under a tree with a herd of goats when the other pilgrims walked up. They had stopped for a break, I think at the service station.

Then it was onwards and upwards yet again. We climbed the highest point in the Sierra Morena. The mountain today I found easier as it was just a gradual up, we're as the 2 previous mountains have been sharp inclines with almost switchbacks which I find difficult.

Oh who am I kidding mountains suck!!!

It's all down hill tomorrow and was only going to be 21km but the Albergue is closed and so we are walking an extra 6km as its Cristy's birthday and we are having a party with all the Pilgrims.

We then might think about a rest day. I think we will keep going as Cristy is ok with her blisters and my back seems to be holding up.