Monday 12 February 2018

Almaden to Monesterio

Low cloud delays dawn ... yesterday's rehearsal eases dark exit past bull ring, scene of Sunday sport, dead bull laid out, locals taking steaks ... no photo ... rather strong imagery for this sensitive soul ... though wary of hypocrisy, since shoes once lived and breathed as the skin of a cow or bull ... Buddhist monks of Tibet typically eat flesh from Yaks, but despise the butchers. ..

Body mind reflects on all this ... socks, with shoes and feet a key team for walkers, once kept sheep warm ... meanwhile feetback reports all well, as long as laces continue to constrain movement ... blisters, mostly of heel, being the bane of many unwary pilgrims ... shoulders complained a little last night, after excess weight from food and fluid carried due to 30 k trip without services ... rucksack, shoulders and hips mostly a happy team for carrying essentials, though mind may manage what that means ...

Light cloud leads to light rain, which land sips gratefully ...layers 1 and 4 add layer 5 for showerproofing, leaving layer 6 for serious rain ... 

Early start means first stop is reached by 10.30 ... a rest and airing for feeteam. . a busy bar (breakfast time it seems) offers coffee ... earlier breakfast of porridge ensures fuel for further, stomach having indicated, via loose morning motion, mayonnaise laden tapas not optimal ... 20 k to bed stop should see late lunch opportunity ... in Extremedura, as Andalusia was left behind shortly after Almaden ...

As indeed it does, after delightful 10k on dirt road, through cork oak forest and grazing goats, sheep, cows and pigs ... at the end of the road, an abbatoir and a motorway, with 24 hour services not tempting at all ... last 10k mentally challenging, but brings Monesterio at 15 15, a brief look for tempting pilgrim special at first hotel, though Monday is chef's day off, so on into town and eventually a restaurant with lunch and WiFi for locating a bed ...which turns out to be the first one ...no sign of pilgrims on the road today and possibly chilly, solo Albergue not appealing ... shorter stage tomorrow ... with little option for variation ... 50+ has been done, but it is too much ... 

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