VIII Marcha por Caminos

Yes, it's that time of the year again when the hiking boots and walking sticks come out for the village walk. This year Margaret had managed to get out of the walk itself by volunteering to make bocadillos at the 2nd checkpoint. We all assembled in the Plaza Mayor around 8.30am for chocolate and a drink and then set off on the 15 km walk.

Photo from Floyd - click on any image for a bigger view.

Once again, the views along the walk were wonderful. Below is the old railway bridge across the river with the village of La Fresneda in the background. It was around here that I heard the first cuckoo of the year.

Thankfully, this year the going was dry and if anything, the route kept more to the caminos, rough tracks, for most of the time rather than cutting through the undergrowth and up and down steep rock faces.



The route was also very clearly marked, which was just as well as the majority of walkers were behind me and those in front had disappeared into the distance.

Floyd's photo

At the first checkpoint we had water and a bag of almonds and at the 2nd checkpoint, above, we were given a bocadillo with tomato spead, chorizo, sausage, or jamon. At the 3rd checkpoint it was an apple and / or orange and then a 4th checkpoint appeared further along the route for a drink and a chocolate Easter rabbit - obviously someone had a surplus somewhere to get rid of.

Floyd's photo

After a shower and a change back home it was time for lunch in the Plaza.

Floyd's photo

It was the local dish of white bean stew with pig's trotters and black sausage cooked in a very large cauldron on an open wood fire on site.


Everyone sat in their groups and some groups were very prepared with salads before the meal. Our group however, concentrated more on the postres after the meal with plenty of drink to wash it all down which was very typical.


All this, as well as a gift for completing the walk which this year was a hikers waterproof, for €12. Remember, this isn't the U.K. and people didn't do this walk because they were sponsored and were raising money for charity. They did it as a social event.

I can hardly wait for next year!