Day 25

I have booked a bunk in San Nicolas about 13km away, the forecast according to my room mate is for 26 and after only just getting a bed yesterday I decided to play it safe.

There is lots of farming activity this morning, a man ploughing his fields waits for me to pass before he starts his next row, I wave a thank you and he waves back.

I actually think about my Mum and Dad a lot today. Dad would have loved Camino especially this section there is so much farming going on, he would have loved talking to all the pilgrims and finding out where they are from, he probably would have liked to ride his bike rather than walk. Mum would have loved all the flowers and all the birds and bird song, she would have loved the social part at the end of the day when the pilgrims are sitting around having a beer and a chat. She would definitely have been a taxigrino* and if any place had a pool she would have been in it.

An elderly Spanish man appears out of no where he has on shorts and work boots and no shirt, the sun is belting down, he is walking his two dogs, we say hello, I think what he says is “go fast it’s too hot today”, Rapido Rapido!

At Moratinos there is what looks like a Hobbit village, there is a sign which actually says this is not a Hobbit village! This is a Bodegas they are about 500 years old and used to store wine and some food like cheese and ham. While I am there a local arrived and put what looked like a slab of beer into his one. Nice to see they are still being used.

I am about 3km out from where I will finish for the day, I come across Cinda, Cinda is the lady from Kansas who is walking with a walker, it’s a very modern walker and is designed for off road walking. Cinda had planned for many years to cycle Europe for her 75th year but many major health challenges have put an end to her cycling life and her dream. During her recovery though she came up with a new dream, to walk a Camino. I walk with her all the way to my town, she had another nearly 8km to hers.

My Alburgue is owned by an Italian lady, there is a lovely courtyard out the back where we all do our laundry by hand there is lots of sun so the clothes are dry in no time.

I have a drink with a German guy, and two women, one from the UK the other the Netherlands. We go in for dinner which is home made pesto pasta followed by meatballs with a pea sauce and salad. For dessert we have a delicious Greek yogurt with fresh berries and honey. The German guy and I sit outside after dinner finishing our Vino Tinto until 10pm a very late night for me, it’s time for bed and lights out.

Distance walked 14.8km

Elevation 850m

Total Distance walked so far 399.1.

Hardly saw any pilgrims all morning, then I stopped for some water and turned around and there were 12 pilgrims all walking together. I nearly fell over!

*taxigrino a pilgrim who does their Camino by Taxi.

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