Camino Pilgrim

I exited the monastery before sunrise. Big day planned after all. The landscape was supposed to be relatively flat all day and that would mean a lot of water still around the trail.

I was very lucky in the morning. While walking towards the 7km Camino trail to the next village, I noticed several cars in a row turn towards the old N-630 highway instead. I decided to try that route out. Seeing that many cars the road condition must be way better than the countryside hiking trails.

Soon enough I reached the same N-630 road that hiked along into Merida a little while ago. This old highway is also used by bicycle pilgrims for their Via de la Plata trail. I saw more bicycles than cars on this road today. Cars mostly go on the new highway that avoids small villages and allows greater speeds.

Life on the old highway passed by fast. First village of Casas de Don Antonio got reached in the blink of the eye. Before the second village there were old Roman milestone markers. Several of them. The old highway was built pretty much on top of where the Roman road was around here. Some old bridges around the highway were additional proof of this.

I did try to go on the Camino trail right next to the old highway for a moment, but the morning dew and the puddles of water from days past were making it uncomfortable for my sneakers. I got my socks wet within a few minutes. Luckily the second village, Aldea del Cano, was close and it had a bar right next to the road. I got to eat some delicious Spanish potato omelet and got to swap out socks for dry ones.

I decided to stay on the tarmac and go for the third village of Valdesalor. This is 25km from the monastery and most pilgrims from yesterday aimed to come here. Its also the first albergue option since the monastery. Accommodations still stay far apart.

I wanted to raise my average daily distance and walk further than most today. The 12km into Careces I was mostly on the Camino trail. Even if my feet do get we then I am at least not far away from the destination anymore. This last part was also more hilly, so mud and water were less likely. They were still there. Will need many days for everything to be perfect on the trail again. I see myself using the car roads frequently in the near future if I want to finish in Santiago.

Careces itself was a massive surprise to me. All I knew about it was that its one of the few cities I pass by. From the cities its not even among the bigger ones. What astonished me was the old town here. It has very tall medieval buildings in an area bigger than Tallinn old town. I kept wandering around the streets like a dumb tourist, eyes looking up and mouth wide open. I tried to get picture and videos but the building are just so close to each other and very tall. You have to experience it firsthand. Its like a desert oasis city from the movies.

With this car road and Camino combination I believe I can do even bigger days if needed. Will just need to plan and prepare ahead of time on where to use which option. I want to walk on the nature trails as much as possible but not if it means constantly jumping around water on the ground.

It did rain a little when I finished today, otherwise I see the rain behind me for now. The temperature is perfect for car roads with low traffic.