Valdeverde to San Pedro

Last night's warm bar and thoughts of snack turned into another full meal ... with leftovers stashed for today's picnic ... Albergue cold, as expected, but warm enough in bed with sleeping bags under bedclothes, and awake refreshed for an extra early start ... the idea to pick up the stage from Fuenterrobles early enough to make the 28k comfortable ... into the dark at 7.15, alerting local dogs, briskly along the road, legs eager, temperature encouraging speed ... first bar at 4.5km does not slow the pace, being closed ... maybe the lack of coffee increases the pace ... in any case, Fuenterrobles arrives at 9.15, sky is clear, Sun is up, breakfast is served and 10 am departure feels like a new day for a steady sub-30 stage for 2 Albergue options plus a Casa Rural ... and a short stroll into Salamanca tomorrow ...

Roman road much in evidence, with authentic looking pillars marking distance, though whether they are distressed artificially or from being buried for a thousand years and more is not clear ... dropping into centurion mode awhile and marching briskly covers the ground and distract the mind as altitude is gained gradually, then steeply up to the summit of the Pico de Duente, a view of Salamanca and a chat with Rafael, early retired from banking and sometime pilgrim on the Primitivo ... living locally, we share the gradual descent until he turns off ... having encouraged an alternative route into Salamanca in the morning ... and advised of rain in the forecast from Tuesday. ..

Focus on lunch energises the legs for the last hour, since 4pm is getting late, even for Spain ... on the way into town an old chap comments on the pace ... briefly explained ... Albergue and Bar Elena clearly marked and through the door at ten past four ... more or less as planned ... tortilla and salad fills the gap and a full supper is proposed for later .... Albergue very warm and cosy, without bunks and nobody else checked in ...

Another stage picked up from Gronze.com proposed itinerary ... a short Sunday stroll tomorrow and time for sightseeing in Salamanca ... as for San Pedro, nothing much to report, apart from the welcome, warm bed and food at Elena's ... and today's 40+ keeping the average over 30 kpd. ..