Slept well despite the Albergue being full with 14 beds in the room. If anyone snored I didn't hear them. Breakfast was offered in the Albergue as there no open bars when people leave in the early morning in this town and it was a good breakfast with plenty of coffee and toast, croissants etc.
I left the Albergue at about 7:30 while it was still dark but it was soon light and the path out of town was easy to follow. Soon I was in the Cornalvo National Park and on paths similar to yesterday's. It is beautiful place with only the noise of the birds and the cattle and sheep. I even heard the cuckoo for the first time on this trip so I know that spring has arrived.
Soon it was sunrise and the landscape changed as the sun rose. I don't see many beautiful sunrises like this so it was a treat.
Even the signage was different in the National Park, but easy to follow.
This was a strange sign that I couldn't figure out. Someone told me that the Via Pecuaria was an old road used for driving cattle and perhaps the monkey was drawn in later by some joker.
After leaving the park there were several cars parked near the road and I think they were people either camping or hiking in the area. It was a Saturday and although I saw some arriving I didn't see anyone out of their cars. It is a beautiful area so would be a nice place for a day or a weekend.
The road was hilly and on the hills the trail was washed out with gullies on the steep parts. No pictures I am afraid as they don't show much. Overall we were climbing all day.
Then the trail changed with some houses on each side. The signage also became confusing with yellow arrows pointing in different directions. I think the local people are trying to get pilgrims to stay there. However I tried to follow the guide book to find what I hoped would be the best way to the only Albergue mentioned in the guide and I think I got it right. The Albergue mentioned is in an old monastery and was described in a way that made it sound very primitive. As I was coming to the place where I would turn left for the Albergue I met some people walking a dog who asked me where I was headed. I told them and they told me that a new Albergue had just opened and said it was very nice and recommended that I try it. I followed their advice and was soon there.
I have a room to myself and it turns out that I am the first peregrino to check in there! Very welcoming and they will also cook a meal for tonight. Very convenient. I went through my usual routine on arrival of shower, wash clothes, hang out to dry and then look for somewhere for a sandwich for lunch and supplies for the next day. Since today is Saturday and the shops close at 3:00 pm and are closed on Sundays I made sure I had what I needed for tomorrow.
In the meantime 4 more people have arrived, all of them from the Albergue we stayed at last night so it is a friendly group.
No wifi here and I was unsuccessful at the bar I went to for lunch. It was so full of people and noisy as a soccer game was on that I could barely get to the bar to order and the wifi password they wrote down for me did not work. Later I found out why the bars were so full and noisy: Real Madrid are playing Barcelona today!
I walked round the town a bit in the afternoon. Quite a pretty little town built on the side of a hill with steep narrow streets and the houses mostly in rows. Seemed to be well maintained with the houses niceley painted and the streets clean with very little litter. The church is 16th century but it was closed with no sign of any activity.
Later I went out again and found another bar, quieter, and was able to get on line and upload at least some of the next blog but sending it will have to wait until tomorrow probably.
When I got back to the albergue it was almost time for dinner cooked by the volunteer hospitaleiros. There were 5 peregrinos and the 2 hospitaleiros Nd we all sat down together. They had made a nice dinner with excellent carrot and pumpkin soup followed by ham with vegetables and boiled potatoes. Dessert was fresh fruit salad with strawberries, kiwi etc. they had got all the ingredients at the market which is held every Friday. Today was Saturday. No pictures I am afraid.
Soon it was time for bed and in my single room I slept very well despite it being very cold everywhere. I had my good sleeping bag and nice blanket over it.
Oh I nearly forgot to say that today's stage was 20 km
Good night. I will try and post this tomorrow.
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How nice that those folks steered you to such a great place! Chance meetings like that are one of the things that make travel so wonderful.
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