DAY 36 - CASAR DE CÁCERES to CAÑAVERAL - Tuesday 28 May 2024

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At first light (nautical twilight) we headed out on the Via, but we weren't the first - we soon met a pilgrim from Germany, who might possibly take as many photos as we do. It was very photogenic, with the sun just coming up.

The dirt track wound through scrubby fields of cows, sheep and granite boulders. We saw Roman distance markers. At one stage a dog guarding the sheep bailed us up, but as we were three we managed to cross without incident. We started to get views of the second largest lake in Spain, the Embalse de Alcántara.

After a couple of hours we sat down in a shelter, and were joined by pilgrims from Italy and Brazil - usually it's just us out walking, but everyone left early because of the heat of the day and the length of the stage. One of the pilgrims shared a watermelon - very refreshing, and I was amazed he'd carried it all that way. 

The Via then took us along a road and over several bridges, before we climbed up a stony track to the next shelter, with great views over the lake. After our rest, we continued on the old Roman road. This was quite slow as it was very stony and hot. We saw a few sheep and views across the plain. 

We had our final rest in a shelter just before Cañaveral, topping up our water bottles. We have a very nice double room in an albergue tonight and the luxury of having our washing done - a real treat!

After a shower we went out to have a 'caña' in Cañaveral. There were men playing a game underneath a screen that showed a bullfighting movie - it really felt like Spain!

This morning we were on the road in time to see the sunrise
Leaving Casar de Cáceres in the early morning
We spotted a fellow walker ahead of us, near a circular shelter provided for livestock migration 
Sunrise on the Via de la Plata 
We walked for part of today's stage with Dirk, a German walker on his way to Santiago and beyond. He was very happy at the prospect of appearing in our blog. 
A haphazard grouping of Roman milestones
An innocuous-looking sheep farm through which we had to walk. The dog in the centre of the photo hounded us all the way through. 
Pleasant walking on the Via de la Plata 
The path went alongside the Embalse de Alcántara for several kilometres
A welcome shelter above the Embalse, where Dirk kindly offered to take our photo
On through parts of the original Roman road towards Cañaveral
Into Cañaveral at the end of a long day's walk
Enjoying a caña in Cañaveral
Birds
Cows and sheep
Day 36 - Map

Day:                                36
Distance:                       34.07 km
Walking time:               7 hrs 23 mins
Elevation gain:             566 meters
Cumulative distance: 663.91 km

Comments

  1. Murray and Sandra15 July 2024 at 08:25

    maybe a crested lark, European Hoopoe (well done!), no idea, White Stork

    ReplyDelete
  2. Murray and Sandra15 July 2024 at 12:25

    probably Crested Tit rather than Crested Lark

    ReplyDelete

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