Stage 6 - Los Santos de Maimona to Villafranca de los Barros (16km): 02/09/2014 05:56

One of the many ancient olive tress we passed today

We were in our albergue by 11:20am just as the day was getting really warm. After a shower we are relaxing inside. On the way into town a policeman asked us how we were and told us that it was going to reach 40C today.

We are getting into a fairly good routine now. We stop every hour on the hour for a rest and refreshments - an energy bar, or a piece of fruit, or a ham roll, plus a few squares of chocolate and of course water. We start each day carrying about 2 litres of water each and drink most it. We also get through 500ml of Aquarius. We pause frequently while walking - for a drink, to take a photograph, to admire the view, to look at the animals, to help ourselves to a fig (the olives aren't ripe yet), to rest on a hill, to enjoy the shade after a long spell in the sun.  Pauline has more pauses than I do as she regularly waits for me to catch up.

For our third rest period of the day, at 9:00am, we feel good if we have completed nine kilometres. At that time we give a thought to our friends back in Menlo who are just leaving their homes to start their morning walk around the quarry. Any time we are within five kilometres of a destination, we reassure ourselves by saying, "Just once around the quarry and we're there".

Today's walk gave us a few anxious moments in the dark, as we tried to find yellow arrows to point us in the right direction. On two occasions we missed turn offs but were lucky enough to immediately spot a yellow X, indicating we were on the wrong route. We seemed to be going through olive country today although we passed vineyards at the start and finish and this is said to be a wine town.

We found our albergue with little difficulty and are very pleased with it.

Our albergue - with plaques at the door

The grape harvest

Two relatively modern churches in Villafranca de los Barros

Next: Stage 7 - Villafranca de los Barros to Almendralejo