Parque de la Paz

When I informed our Albergue hosts that I would do a short 4 km walk to the next town today, (all private accommodation is booked out in Zafra due to the fiesta) they kindly invited me to stay another night. On Camino Frances you can only stay one night in a Municipal Albergue, unless you have a doctors note. This Camino is much harder - dare I say brutal - but with not so many pilgrims I guess the albergue rules can be more flexible. So a much needed rest day in Zafra.
I have had a few long chats with Clare, one of the hospitalaros, and she said it’s not so much the distances on VDLP but the fact that there are no towns or services in between stages - so one tends to just motor on. And you need to carry food and additional water.
I notice that I have not taken as many breaks - even just sitting by the side of the road - as I might have in the past. This was due partly to the fact that there were no villages in which to stop and partly because the group I have been loosely attached to walked faster and longer than I would normally do. They have looked out for me which has been fabulous but they also waited for me to catch up. So I guess I have been pulled to walk faster than I might when on my own.
Anyway our little party has broken up. Ino and Balbi are taking the train back to Sevilla and Jocamo is taking a train or bus to Cáceres and then will move to Camino Portuguese. He doesn’t like this Camino. 😂
Well, truth be told, nor do I at the moment. But I am the type of person who likes to finish what she started. And I know the liking and disliking are not the truth.
On reflecting on the last 10 days I can see that I need to take more breaks wherever I am, practice gratitude and appreciation for what is, know that the body is getting stronger every day and it will feel easier as the weeks go by and stay in the day - one day, one hour, one step at a time. After all there is only the day I am in.
I just worked out that I am averaging 14 km a day - not so shabby in these early stages carrying my pack. Hooray for me 🥳🥳🥳
Pics are from walking around the streets of Zafra last night.Read more