Camino Pilgrim

I am finally out of the desert. It started feeling a bit different after crossing the river yesterday, but now I can be sure. There are trees everywhere with fresh leaves. Nature is changing quite quickly.

The first 17km today were following the old N-630 highway. Although the going was still quite flat, then with trees around its a lot more fun. The new highway was far away and it was really silent to walk.

I did make a stop at Barcial del Barco. Needed to wait 30 minutes before the bar opened. There was a nice bench in the shade to lie down on right in front and wait for time to pass. Yesterday I was so tired that I fell asleep before the bars started serving food again. I did not have trail snacks left either

After getting my breakfast, I felt ready to say goodbye to the old highway. N-630 still showed 225 kilometers left until the end, but the Camino turns away from it and it seems on the map that it just merges into another numbered road.

At the end of the village a new road started, the Green Camino. A former railway track now turned into a walking route. Motorized vehicles are not allowed there. You get a nice view of the surroundings from the elevated path. All former train tunnels and bridges have nice wooden planks on the ground and wooden handrails nearby. Lots of trees are giving you share. Its the perfect Camino!

I had a lot of fun doing the first few kilometers of the green Camino into Benavente. The trail still continues for another 20 kilometers and runs in parallel with the Via de la Plata official trail.

The albergue here in town is the old train station building. My body was telling me to cut today shorter than the last few days and so I did. It was a good place town to do grocery shopping anyways.

The next village in 22km is by far a worse option to stay in. Hopefully I can do a longer day tomorrow. The feet do not seem to mind walking. Especially on the green Camino!