DAY 52 - TÁBARA to CALZADILLA DE TERA- Thursday 13 June 2024

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After breakfast in our hotel, we followed a shortcut along quiet roads to join up with the Camino Sanabres. We noticed many small pockets of vineyards. It seems as if many people have their own personal patch. They were taking advantage of the cool morning to work in their patches. 

The Camino took us on a wide dirt track through areas of scrub. Much of this was burnt out - there were bad wildfires in this area in July 2022. We spotted lots of birds, flowers and the occasional animal track. This area houses the highest concentration of wolves in all of Spain, as well as big populations of deer. We didn't see any, but wondered if some of the tracks we saw belonged to them.

Eventually we arrived in Villanueva de las Peras, our planned second breakfast stop. Our Swiss friends had beaten us there and gave the Bar la Plaza the thumbs up. It didn't disappoint: delicious tapas and the cleanest toilets in Spain. 

Dragging ourselves away, we discovered more bodegas built into the hillside. A few kilometres further, we came across a purpose built pilgrim shelter - the first of its kind that we've seen, very impressive! 

We descended into Santa Croya de Tera, replenishing our liquids at a little supermarket. We found the river pool our guidebook had mentioned and cooled off there, each in our own way. 

In another 2 km we were in Santa Marta de Tera, and quickly located the iconic sculpture of Santiago, the oldest statue of the apostle and a symbol of the Camino Sanabres. We enjoyed a menú del día at the local restaurant before saying goodbye to the other five pilgrims eating there, who were staying the night - we had another 11 km to go. 

Luckily it was flat and shady for most of the way, following the river. We took poppy photos, photos of the poplar plantations and photos of the fields with their irrigation systems.

Once checked in at our homestay, we did our usual supermarket trip, admiring the wells of Calzadilla de Tera along the way. There are no storks on the church tower, but we enjoy the bell concert on the hour. 

Walking through a bushfire-scarred landscape
Heading out from Tábara this morning
Just outside Tábara - traditional ceremonial selfie to mark the 1,000km point of our walk 
Heading north from Tábara
The Camino Sanabrés took us through countryside still showing the effects of bushfires from a couple of years ago
Towards Villanueva de las Peras on the Camino Sanabrés 
Villanueva de las Peras
Underground bodegas outside Villanueva de las Peras
A sheltered picnic area on the Camino. We could hardly believe it. 
On towards Santa Croya de Tera 
Santa Croya de Tera with its wonderful river pool
A pleasant path through Santa Croya de Tera
Historic statue of Saint James in Santa Marta de Tera
On through Santa Marta de Tera to the restaurant for lunch
Heading westward from Santa Marta de Tera
And on towards Calzadilla de Tera
Calzadilla de Tera 
Prints
Flowers
Birds
Day 52 - Map

Day:                               52
Distance:                      34.84 km
Walking time:              6 hrs 54 mins
Elevation gain:            459 meters
Cumulative distance: 1,032.97 km

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