Giullerna to Castiblanco 30.4kilometres of heaven and hell

Today is the biggest day for awhile. We have 30.4 Kim's and we are all eager to start early and avoid the heat of the day as much as possible. I don't find it too bad but Karen(English)) and Una (Irish) find it hot. My feet are letting me down. I wish I had bought my old boots. The terrain is much more rugged than we had on the Frances and my boots are not so comfy. I have a really nasty blister on my heel which I am treating and padding out with the wool Kim's friend sent to me.

The hospitalaria here at the municipal was walking around after lights out with a torch checking the beds before he locked us in! It was disturbing and I ended up not sleeping at all.  The way was a bit confusing to get out of town so I wanted to be with a few others. As it turned out I was the one with a torch so ended up leading the group out along the highway once we got through town. Actually the markings are generally very good with yellow arrows frequently showing the way.

This was a pretty awful part. 18 Kim's along the highway with cars speeding towards us which I found somewhat unnerving in the dark and more so in the daylight. They drive so fast. 

By now my feet are screaming and I have a very painful  heel. when I stop to investigate I realise the blister has burst and it is now not so bad. 

We finally reach the entrance to the National park and begin the heavenly part. This beautiful park has cork trees that have been partly stripped and vast areas of wild lavender. 

It is like a manicured garden.  We cross streams and pass by a very appealing lake. There are white water flowers that I thought were white crystal stones. As we begin a slow climb we are on the lookout for deer. The next part of the park is pine forest with odd shaped pines. It appears that they prune the lower branches until the trees look like pom-poms then harvest at about twenty feet tall. It was like a giant topiary forest. Now came the really hard part. A gradient of 1 in 2. It was a short tough slog and then great views and a steep,rocky descent. By the time I got down I just wanted to lie down. The first Albergue was not the Municipal but at this stage I didn't care. I just want to get the pack off and my feet up. 

After a blissful shower and a wander round town I stopped for a Huge gin and tonic.  I visited the farmacia for compreds and a foot massage cream that smells like betadine. 

The church here is baroque style and on the exterior quite modest but the interior was impressive with a three layer high main altar of wood with gold leaf and several Virgin Mary sculptures and other saints. They had reliefs for the stations of the cross. The ceiling was painted with patterns. It was beautiful and really cold inside. All the churches are readying for Easrer week when the statues will be paraded around town. This statue is magnificent with lots of silver candelabras and halos. The town is quite well off looking with lots of industry around pork products and silver mines as well as a huge bank of solar panels.

We all join together for dinner at the Concho bar for a peregrine menu 8€. It was really delicious and I had gazpacho with lots of peppers followed by potato tortilla and fresh strawberries and cream; what a treat.

Off to bed and I slept solidly for the first time. 

I am disappointed in my physical state this time. I have trained more but this is more rugged country and my pack may be heavier. I have not walked with my sticks every day and my knees have noticed. The company is good and they make the walking easier.  Some of our friends will walk through two towns tomorrow but I am not keen to as I think I need more rest for my feet.