Monterrubio de la serena to Castuera

We had a good night's sleep and got up at 0630, Ken very kindly put compeed dressings on my blisters as I couldn't reach them very easily. The walk was very much as advertised in the guidebook, although there were three very long but shallow inclines. The walk passed quickly and I was surprised at how easy it was - my feet were sore at first but eased off for most of the walk, only becoming painful again for the last few km.

The walk was uneventful and more of a dull plod rather than an exciting or varied journey, but I was glad to arrive in the town. we went to a cafe for some refreshments, and then registered at the police station, got the key for the albergue and headed off there.

It was a very nice, modern and spacious albergue with good showers, but no washing machine. I decided that I would take the bus tomorrow, it was much longer walk and my feet were very sore. I understood th eissue, after all we were on a hike not a bus trip, and there is always the danger that once you start getting a bus or taxi, it gets easier to keep doing that, defeating the purpose of the camino. I didn't want to go down that route any more than Ken, but my feet were very sore, and I needed a rest. However, you can't stay more than one night in an albergue.

So, using Google Maps, we went out for a walk to find the bus station, it was at a dead end with a turning circle for cars, it was very hot and the Dia store nearby was closed and so there was no one around, the streets were empty. We found the bus station but it was closed, and we couldn't see a timetable posted anywhere. Just then a car pulled up (remember this was a dead end road) and the driver got out and asked if we needed help. We xplained that we were trying to find the time of the bus to Campanario tomorrow morning, and he told us right away that there was one at 0700, 0910, and 1330. Once he was sure that we understood, he got back in his car and drove off. It was for me a little camino miracle, and perhaps confirmation that we were making the right choice.Read more