LIVE from the Camino Biking the Vdlp

[Paschulke]

So, right now we're chilling in Cáceres, day four of our tour. We are looking forward to a day's rest due to my friend's knee probs.

We started in Sevilla on tuesday and wanted to go all the way to Almadén. The heat though made it impossible for us, I was building snowmen only three weeks ago.

The following days we were able to catch up the delay but as I said earlier, we are forced to rest. Surely there are worse places to do that than Cáceres.

Nature really is awesome, it's still green. The spanish people have shown themselves being really nice and helpful so far and we surely have met some originals amongst fellow pilgrims.

The bikes are functioning well but could need some love (water and oil). One puncture this far, and it wasn't the Schwalbe Marathon tires

I try to attach some pics, don't know if I'll figure out how.

Greetings to you all,
Daniel

 

[Paschulke]

The stone that looks like the jesus rune I found at the steeep uphill at the end of the path through the nature resort Sierra Norte. I found it when I needed some encouragement, at the same time there was a strong wind pushing me uphill.

I picked it up and wanted to take it home, but now this feels wrong. I'll put it somewhere for someone else to find.

 

[Paschulke]

Evening life in Cáceres

 

[Deborah Williams]

This is my first Camino and I chose the VdlP because I am totally intrigued with Andalusian and Southern Spanish history, as well as l like nice weather and spring flowers, and initially walking each day on flat land was preferable to the rain and hills I had read about on the C. F. On arriving at Guillena, Alberge - the first day out from Seville, the friendship and generosity of new arrivals of Germans, Italians, French,and a couple of English speakers was quickly established (due to the offer to all of a glass of the delicious 'Don Simon' vino tinto of chateau cardboard fame, which was subsequently outranked the following night by a similar box of Spa Tinto!). The beauty of the VdlP is that the first 10 days are quite prescriptive, so it is fairly certain that your acquaintances will all be heading for the same Alberge or the same dinner bar as you the next evening. We are all (about 24 of us by hellos, but 12 by regular dinner dates) now in Merida, and choices of the next sector of the journey have to be made individually. Our travelling group has been strong at the end of each day, but from now on it will be different. People are choosing different routes. This is the strength and compassion of the Camino. The Camino is your own, so now the choices start. But the first 10 days of the VdlP are worth their weight in gold, and I highly recommend them.