Today’s distance 14 km
Elevation gain 36 m
Elevation loss 144 m
Total distance from Almería 643 km

We left Trujillo almost as quickly as we entered – through a residential area and onto the EX-208, a road with adequate shoulder, not too many (but fast-moving) cars and some varied scenery. The road is marked as a Via Pecuaria, an ancient drovers’ route.

The land outside Trujillo is split into small parcels, divided by stone walls and hedges, which is a pleasant change from the huge rolling fields of cereal crop that we walked through for the last few stages.

After passing through an area called Huertas de Animas the land becomes rougher – moorland with great outcrops of granite strewn amongst the scrub and oak trees.

It’s a pleasant and peaceful walk when vehicles aren’t whizzing by at considerable speed.

The landscape changes to lush pastures heavily wooded with oak and we realise we are in pig country again, lots of young black piggies lolling around in the shade of the trees.

And we see a variety of birds of prey, storks and even a hoopoe.

The flying stork looks to be carrying a new born babe to its parents (when actually it was a horrible piece of plastic)

Soon we come to the turning into the village where we are staying. Once again there is no albergue, although the alcalde will offer the floor of some building and may even provide some foam to lie on. But I also notice when looking at the village on google maps that there is a Casa Rural, horribly expensive, but infinitely better than sleeping on the floor with no washing facilities. The townhouse where we are staying is rather beautifully decorated but sadly without outdoor space. But there is an abundance of piping hot water so I treat myself to an unaccustomed bath. I shop for food for supper and make a dish of tomatos, peppers, courgette, onions and chickpeas, all of which cost me the princely sum of 2.95€ plus another 1€ for a small box of wine. I may have paid a lot for the accommodation but dinner didn’t break the bank! It was tasty enough, with sufficient protein and fibre but lacking in substance. Breakfast is served in the morning and there is a mountain of stuff on the kitchen table that I can’t eat. But not to worry, I can fill up on bread and jam.

Today’s walk was very short at 14 km but the alternative was 39 km into the next town, and as I said before, we are not in a hurry. And although the entire walk was on the road, as I think it will be for 26 km tomorrow, I am sure it is better for my foot to be on flat ground for a while longer. It has improved a little, I purchased some stronger anti-inflammatory gel (Voltadol Forte) which seems to be helping, along with an occasional ibuprofen. Hopefully all will be well before our upcoming trek through the natural park in a couple of days.