Wednesday 18th April 2018

25.9 km (485.1 km)

The weather today was perfect again and although the walk went along the usual dirt track it went through the beautiful church of Santa María del Castillo; perched on a hill overlooking the river.

Later on the path passed the ruins of Castrorafe and as it was a short day I took a detour and went to explor; the ruins were of a complete village and it was all just a bit spooky being there alone but impressive all the same.

My guides all showed a coffee stop about 16km from the start of the walk. When I arrived at the village a local lady was shouting at me directing me back onto the camino but I was resolute in my search for a coffee. There was none to be had and I returned to the path only for the same lady to this time to take me by the arm to her cafe…I use that term very loosely as it was more like a shack in a run down garage but I did get some good coffee.

I am now on the municipal Albergue in Granja De Moreruela and have spent the last few hours trying to dry out the Albergue that I managed to flood earlier on. I must have had the shower head pointing in an unfortunate direction because when I alighted from the shower I’d not only managed to some the entire bathroom but the bunk room too…many hours of mopping ensued and I’ve had to remain sitting in front of the Albergue warning all those who enter that it might be very slippery….I think it might be dry by now which is just as well as it’s 1900 so nearly time for bed! Marianne, the Spanish who I was with when we had to retrace our steps in the rain a week ago has turned up today so we will walk together tomorrow…with no common language it’s very frustrating, I need to learn Spanish.