Day 17 - Castrojerez to Boardillo

At a glance:
Food highlights: Communal dinner of lentil soup, chicken stew and ice cream
Kilometres walked 20.54k
# of steps: 25,133
Elevation gain: 249m in 1k!
I recognized the hill. Last time I did it in the heat of the day and it was awful. I don't do well in heat and I don't do well going uphill. So I was thankful that it was not even 7:30 a.m. Trudy, the ever ready bunny however, just keeps on going. We ran into San Juan Islander Larry again near 10 a.m.. He doesn't do well in the sun so tries to be out the door before six am. Our alarm doesn't go off until six but still we caught up to him and chatted for a few minutes.
We also ran I to....or I should say Peta ran I to us on her Brompton bike. She had to push it up the 12% grade hill for 1k and walk it down the 18% grade for .5k. Luckily she ran into James who helped push on the uphill.
The remainder of the hike is gental pathways and wildflowers and fields of wheat and barley. We have been resting our feet regularly as Trudy's feet have blisters.
We made it to EnEl Camino. The family runs a traditional albergue on one side of the street and on the other a fancier Casa Rural. We didn't know which we were booked in and I happily paid the €45 for the fancy modern room with 2 beds and shiny tiled floors and a skylight that opens and a bathroom window looking out at the church roof with stork nests with the young working out. Once again the beds have real sheets!
I recognize the man at the reception. He has more grey in his hair than in 2018 and he still flirts. I seem to recall he worked in Toronto for a year or so on his youth
At 7:00 pm we join Paula, Sue and Larry (and others) at the long communal dinner table. We are served a delicious meal of soup, second course of stew and salad as well as ice cream for dessert . The conversation flows and we find out that
Sue, Paula and Larry all worked at social assistance type of professions. We guess the Camino attacks them.
Not sure where we got in.Read more