|
Saturday Santa Amalia to San Pedro de Merida 12 miles flat.
We are out of the very comfortable Hostal Fuente de la Magdalena on the main plaza in Santa Amalia by 8am after breakfast in the cafe open from 6.
The first part of the walk is down the bank of the Rio Burdalo a tributary of the Guadiana flowing to Merida. We heard many different bird songs in the trees and reedbeds nut see non of the participants. We do see along the Way 11 probably Griffon Vultures wheeling up on thermals, a few black kites, several hoopoos and a good few azure winged magpies.
We investigate frog noises in various concrete sluices on the irrigation channels. Only glimpses of frightened amphipians surprised in these amplifying chambers are obtained. We think they consider we are storks shopping for baby food. The dryness of the weather seems t increase the ingress of small bits of gravel into shoes or msyne its just more pleasant to stop and empty shoes when its not raining.
After coffee in Torresfresnada we are walking along metalled side road beside the main Madrid to Lisbon highway, audible but not visible.
Eventually we reach the small town of San Pedro which has almost as an annex a thriving service area with two or three hostals, restaurants and a fuel station or two.
They are not really geared for pilgrims and washing is hung to dry in a convenient olive grove just over the slip road.
Link to where we are on Google Maps
|
