Stage 12 - Alcuescar to Aldea del Cano (15.25km): 09/09/2014 07:03

One of the many beautiful sunrises we experienced on the way

The albergue we were staying in was on the top floor of the monastery residence and, as it was not due to open until 7:00am, we had an enforced lie-in – not that we were complaining, and not that we would consider getting up at 6:15 a lie-in if we were at home. Everyone but the three Spanish women and ourselves were ready to go before seven and the doors were open for them so we did not get the chance to say goodbye.

We started downstairs at seven carrying two bocadillos which the ants were not going to enjoy.

Today's itinerary was either going to be 16km or 26km. We opted for the former which meant that the latish start was not an issue. Until the heat of the sun became noticeable at around 9:30, it was an easy day's walking and we had completed almost 8km in the first two hours. We slowed down after that; to pick a few blackberries, to take pictures of Roman bridges and Milaria, and to shelter from the sun.

We followed the yellow arrows faithfully until it seemed they were going to bypass the small town of Aldea del Cano. I got out my phone with its Satnav and found that if we ignored the arrow and took a right turn we would be heading straight for the town centre. We didn't have to go that far as the albergue was at the first junction.

The three Spanish women passed us half way through our walk and I was sure that we would meet them here, given that they only going marginally faster than us.

They must have continued walking as it is now 7:00pm and we have the 12- bed albergue to ourselves.