Breakfast at the Albergue being rather late, at 8, and a longish stage planned to enable tomorrow's obligatory 38k without intermediate services ... the idea is take breakfast at Grimaldo, 8k away and Gronze.com's proposed starting point for tomorrow ... Michel the only other pilgrim up and waiting for the light ... so, out and up steeply into pine woods on sandy paths as the horizon all around wakes up ... a short diversion to Grimaldo to find nothing open, a short return to the route for a makeshift banana and honey pastry breakfast from the pack, and swiftly on through scrubland and past an intriguing set of security cameras on tall towers, behind high fences ... who lives there? Next, an arrow war at a junction, with a big sign suggesting an alternative Way via Riolobos ... arrows all over the place but what to choose? Imagining the shorter and official way was left, having fewer arrows and guessing the interlopers were pressing their case, that's the choice and less than an hour later happily surprised to arrive at the imagined lunch stop of Galisteo before 12 .... after hooking onto WiFi at the bar, enjoying a a shandy with generous tortilla tapa ... realised it was Riolobos on the alternative route ... hey ho, on we go, 2 hours on tarmac of quiet minor roads and in Galisteo in good time for lunch after wandering through the impressive walled town ... Maria offers rice in seafood sauce, followed by cod with chocolate tart for dessert ... and her photo in front of the mural along with a cheery "see you soon" ... if only she knew ... plenty of time for the 11k to Carcaboso, leaving a long enough 38k for tomorrow ... however ...
Finding exit arrows absent, an optimistic confidence in intuitive route finding leads along tracks towards Carcaboso, visible in the distance ... tracks lead to fields, cows, and the river, on the other side of which lies the road required ... common sense finally prevails and two hours after leaving Galisteo, it's back again to find Michel having a beer, followed some time later by Franziska, Pasqual, Julia and Hannah, who have arrived barefoot much to the amusement of local folks ... solidarity with the suffering Hannah, with aching achilles tendons ...
Meanwhile, Gustavo has arrived and is staying at the Hostal, the others at the Albergue, along with Jimmy, cycling German ... this rather tired "tourigrino" takes the soft option at the Hostal ... breakfast is at 7, leaving time enough for an extra long stage in the morning ... other options are available, as always, but starting on the right side of the river ( or the left side, to be precise), will ease progress as well as following arrows and packing some food for a picnic ... let's see!
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