Hola family and friends.
Here we are at the end of Day 2 on the Mozarabe. The Way was peaceful and relaxing today - except for a couple of stretches on the road. The landscape was more varied than yesterday, though still lots of olive groves. I was happy my camera was back from the dead so I was able to capture the path we followed today.
It was a wonderful day. Nowhere near as long or difficult as Day 1 - though the sun was hot, hot, hot. The Spanish sun has a real bite in the afternoon. At around 2 it was 33 degrees. It's only the first week of May. Surely no-one walks the Mozarabe in summer. Yikes.
I also wonder how many people walk this route alone. I know people do - and I know of one Australian woman who has written a book about it. I couldn't possibly do it. There are hardly any other pilgrims - we didn't see any today. It's great with The French - we are very easy company together - but I would find it way too lonely on my own. And a little scary. The waymarking is odd - and usually missing when most needed.
Often when you are walking on a straight path or road, with no alternative route in sight - you have three or four yellow arrow or other Camino signs within metres of each other. But when you get to a crossroad, fork in the path or T-junction - nothing, de nada! Sometimes The French and I walk on in opposite directions to see who can find the next sign.
The guide book we have is well meaning but should only be used with extreme caution! There have been a few instances where right should have been left, and vice-versa. And the authors don't care much for distances. They will often write something like 'later, you will veer right on a dirt path' - so you keep your eyes peeled but it could be 500 metres later or 5 kms later. Or, as we found today, 'walk alongside the stream, then continue on that path' which we did, only to find the narrow track disappeared into bush about 15 minutes later. We re-traced our steps - and decided that the missing words were 'cross the steam, then walk alongside ... '. Voila, we were back on The Way.
I had read that the olive groves present a particular challenge and getting lost is virtually guaranteed. We found that out today. We had followed a yellow arrow into a huge olive grove and after a climb of a few hundred metres, no more markers. And our guide book was silent on the subject. We had lost The Way - again.
Just two days in and we are getting used to this 'game' we are playing with the waymarking and 'guide' book and having lots of laughs and taking it all in our stride, literally. We are confident now that when we find ourselves 'lost' (and it will inevitably happen again) we can rely on Domi's understanding of topography and my intuition. And, for me, the added bonus is that The French is always calm and confident that we will be back on the right track in no time. And we always are - maybe not in no time, but soon after.
Another hot day forecast for tomorrow and about 27 kms to next town with accommodation.
Time for dinner.
Hasta luego
Jenny and The French.
PS. The French particularly wanted me to take a photo of his kangaroo tag on the back of his pack. A favourite souvenir from his recent visit.
