Happy Mothers Day to all the Mums! Jenny's special Mothers Day treat was to spend a day in a town she was mad keen to visit. So here we are and it is certainly a perfect choice! It's a day of fun and of not taking anything too seriously! This is probably our nicest rest stop yet! A whole day just to kick back and enjoy. The day started well with an amazing breakfast. Toast, croissants, fresh fruit, muesli, yoghurt, orange juice and coffee. And the venue was perfect! And don’t tell Jenny, but it was all only 6 euros each.
One of the highlights was visiting the castle which stands on a solid rock outcrop atop a hill and surrounded by three rivers, which they called a natural moat. It’s not like Australia when it comes to safety. Many stairways are worn granite with rounded corners and are at different heights. But the original steps are about 50% higher than ours. There are no handrails so accessing the different levels can be a little treacherous. On the battlements the walls came to about thigh height and on the other side is a sheer drop of about 4 storeys. This is the third castle we have visited this trip and by far the most outstanding. It is in superb condition, well presented and was surprisingly warm inside and did not seem dark or damp.
We later enjoyed just ambling through town. Although Sunday, there was quite enough open to entertain and amuse us. And quite a number of people around (local tourists it seems.) Jenny's special Mother's Day lunch was a bowl of potato chips and an incredibly delicious (and nutritious) salad each. Our dietary needs have been well addressed today! Which is essential preparation for tomorrow's high energy day.
Truthfully, looking out towards the mountains is a daunting sight. There is a section of mountain still covered in part with snow, leading us to ponder what we need to wear and what to have at the ready. There is also the added dilemma of my physical state. I have been travelling ok until now but by the afternoon I continue to have issues with leg stiffness and soreness of my foot. For sure, some of the problems are an offshoot of the original issue and the others are a consequence of limping. Repetitive strain? So the prospect of a 32km walk over a high mountain tomorrow is a major concern.
We did have the option of starting tomorrow's section of the Camino today and spreading it across two days. That had been recommended to us, but was not something that we seriously considered. After all, today was our 'Puebla de Sanabria' day and we didn't want to have to relinquish it to the Camino! However after much discussion we elected to send one backpack forward (mine) and decant as much as possible of Jenny's into it to also lighten her load. That would make for an easier day for both of us. The area is so beautiful and we have been looking forward to being able to tackle this day, as a milestone of our Camino experience.
We also spent considerable time this evening looking for the Camino exit from town. A bit confusing particularly given that there are different options. Hopefully, now, at the end of the day, we are both adequately refreshed and fully prepared for our big trek tomorrow.
Magnificent clothing, black is quite unusual but I love it. Glad you celebrated Mother’s Day with a rest day and chips. Good luck for your big day tomorrow. Xx