Day 10

The romanticism of the church tower came at the expense of proper heating and (despite wearing every extra layer I had and carrying some aerobics in toilet early hours of the morning to warm up) I did not sleep well. The kitchen however was well stocked and we set out with a large breakfast in our bellies.

Spring has sprung in Spain! We had a chilly start but eventually had to strip down the layers in the sunshine and completely cloudless sky. I spent a lot of the day walking alone and had a special moment stolling along surrounded by green rolling hills with a deep blue Spanish sky above me. I was listening to Macy Gray 'I try and' had an overwhelming  urge to stetch my arms out, spin round in circles and smile (I just did the latter). When I came back down to earth I started thinking about the Mass last night and how some people feed their souls in churches. I do enjoy the reverence of a church service and would like to think there is a God but my soul (whatever that is) needs big open spaces, sunshine and Macy Gray.

I had a tough decision at the 2pm lunch stop.  Either finish today's walking there and then or carry on a further 10km to the next town putting me exactly two days ahead of schedule. I opted to carry on despite my sore feet but just going at a gentler pace. The reward was considerable with the route undulating through peaceful woodland and I walked alone with only the sound of birds.

In the next town, one look at the draughty very spartan Aubergue (I'd done draughty and spartan last night) was enough to push me on a few more kilometres with sore feet and back. Again I was rewarded with a sunset and on arrival in the next town very comfortable Albergue to recuperate in after 43km of walking.