Stage 34 - Santa Marta de Tera to Rionegro del Puente (29.4km): 02/10/2014 07:00

Sun is rising but we have already walked more than 6km along the Rio Tera

My Nexus 7 seemed to be working fine when I set it up this morning. When I tried to check on progress after an hour I couldn't login. Tonight I noticed a hairline crack on the screen, so that is the end of that till I get home.  From here on I'll be using my Windows Phone to keep you updated.

I had written my diary for Wednesday but could no longer access it. However, I managed to retrieve it later at home after the Nexus was repaired.

Today we felt ready for a 21km walk as the terrain looked very manageable. At that point we were hoping to find a four-bed albergue but we weren't sure if it was still open and, if it was, would there be beds for us? We were therefore prepared to add another 8km if necessary.

We were both feeling good and found we were able to step it out faster than our usual pace. We no longer feel the need for the hourly break and are clocking up the kilometres much faster. Today was our best day to date and we didn't take a proper rest for three hours when we reached a village where we could have breakfast. By then we had clocked up approximately 13km. Today we were keeping other peregrinos in sight and I think there were eight in the bar for breakfast at one stage.

We caught up with three at the next village some eight kilometres on, the place where we had planned to stay. We were all in the four-bed albergue having refreshments. We were still feeling good and although beds were available we decided to keep going, to be with peregrinos whose company we have enjoyed since Zamora.

The albergue in Rionegro is very spacious and well-appointed. Two restaurants 

The impressive albergue in Rionegro del Puente

are close by. We chose one with "Asociación Gastronómica" written above the door. There we had what was one of our best meals to date, four courses plus wine, water, liqueur and coffee for €10.

We met up with a number of new Peregrinos here, Lou and David from Vancouver, Melanie from Australia and Michael from Frankfurt. It's unlikely that we will see them again as they are all moving much faster than us.

By the way this was us entering our sixth week of walking.

653km completed, 294km to go

We were never far from large expanses of water today

This would have made a pleasant resting spot but came too early in the day

We might have spent the night here but decided to carry on to Rionegro

It makes a nice picture but it looks like a dying village

We attended evening Mass here in memory of our friend and neighbour John Wade whose funeral took place in Galway today.

Next: Stage 35 - Rionegro del Puente to San Salvador de Palazuelo