Caceres to Alcantara

Caseres to Alcantara

I had a restless night. Too much wine and talk? I get up early to have a shower. Lesson number4(?) no hot water in the morning! Fortunately it was just lukewarm so I wasn't frozen. Peter and I pack bags and head down to breakfast. Andy and Karen appear. The plan is that Karen takes a bus to Salamanca and we will meet her there in ten days.The extra rest should mean her knee will be healed so she can rejoin the walk. It is cold but a pleasant walk through rolling pastures and we get to Casar de Carceras. We walk past a post office that is even open which is exciting so we go back later to buy stamps for our postcards. The guy was so helpful. Then we set off for the supermarket for provisions. Tomorrow's walk won't have any places to get lunch or even coffees. That is what is so different from the other Camino: larger towns but far fewer along the way.  The municipal albergue has only Juan the enigma and us but fills up quickly. It is a completely new group of pilgrims and an Aussie from Caulfield south!  I met Dennis in Seville before I left but he hadn't remembered. He knows my name because he has met Katharina and she has given him my blog. I feel rather embarrassed. I am in my sleeping bag because I am cold and don't want to do any washing. We are having trouble getting wifi so the blog has to wait. Later three other Aussies arrive who come from Gippsland, they also know my name and blog through Katharina. One I later learn is Almutt like the German friend we have just left in Caceres. what a small world. 

It is funny because I was feeling a little like orphans as we had left Karen, and several of our travelling companions have gone on ahead or left at Caceres, then when we got a surge of new (to us) pilgrims I was full of mixed feelings. It is interesting observing the dynamics of people making new friends. There is a group of French travellers who are not making much effort to be friendly, while the Germans are always friendly, probably because more speak English. The Aussies are friendly and a bit concerned about the route because they have an old guide book but are getting on well.   

We walked off early today and while it was chilly, the light was beautiful. The little birds sit on the fence till the last minute and there are lots of sheep and cows. The tinkle of bells around the necks of sheep and cattle is such a pleasant sound in the quiet of the country. There are hills in the distance and then we see the water of the lake and our Albergue is situated here. The last 7 kms seem tough on the highway but eventually it appears and it is very pleasant. We take a room for four and invite a Dutch pilgrim to join us but after we are settled we have to move and end up in a room with two of the Aussie women.  The day is cool but sunny and the Albergue washes our clothes for free! What luxury. We take a stroll round the lake edge and find a place with a whimsical fence of churches made in concrete instead of normal pillars.