Day 2. Wednesday 24/05/2023. Cerro Muriano to Villaharta


                  


21.1 km   4:45 h  Pauses 30 min.  60 min   30 min

 Left our hostal just after 8h for breakfast in the bar next door and out into a cloudy morning. Coming out of  Cerro Muriano we had to cross a large area with military installations, barracks, military vehicles and other equipment parked within the fences on either side of the road. And at that hour of the morning many members of the military doing their morning run. When, from the roadside, Andrea took a photo of a lineup of soldiers for their morning assembly for hoisting the flag two of the joggers stopped and told us that taking photos was prohibited in this area. But then with a Buen Camino they took themselves off.

The path was much easier today. This is the Cañada Real Soriana - one the long distance cattle tracks of this country. Unlike yesterday no rocky outcrops today. A long stretch of what used to be a Nacional, but no longer open to traffic since the construction of the new Nacional. So this old Nacional was covered with earth, possibly in an effort of rewilding. So plants were beginning to grow and in some places trees had broken through the asphalt of the old road and the layer of earth. 

Coming into the first village about half way of today’s stage I had a huge meal, Andrea abstained. And on we went - no longer flat but steeply up and down several times in quick succession on a large track, recently made. Seeing that the trees and the undergrowth which were sprouting fresh green leaves were quite black under their green cover I wondered whether the wide track was made to facilitate access by firefighters. 

In the morning we had telephoned the Villaharta townhall to find out how we could get access to the Casa del Peregrino and were told to telephone again upon our arrival in town. The townhall was closed by then, but someone came for the formalities  -  passport etc and payment - 10 euros each for the night. He accompanied us to the albergue - renovated old house with three bedrooms, one lot of bunkbeds each in two of the rooms and two lots of bunks in the third room - normal bed linen, not throwaway sheets, so we did not have to use our sleeping bag liners. Two bathrooms with a washing machine, kitchen equipped with cooker, fridge, microwave, and sink of course. And living room area with two sofas. Excellent! And so comfortable. And we are having the place to ourselves! 

Had my siesta immediately when we arrived. Washing done, shopping done, dining done - long stage tomorrow with nowhere to shop. 37 km which I cannot do - we will take a taxi for the last kms. Two possible pickup points, after 20 km or 27 km. Of course I would love to do the 27 km. We can call the taxi at either point. We'll see what I feel like when we get there... 










                         Our albergue

                            Swallow nests



Comments

  1. MFPG25 May 2023 at 02:16

    Bon courage. Très intéressant de vous suivre et d'avoir de vos nouvelles. Nous avons noté l'importance de la "sieste" dés l'arrivée...Bises

    ReplyDelete

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