Guillena to Castilblanco de los Arroyos

A shorter and more scenic walk today. Watching the sun come up through the olive trees and orange groves, with the white-washed city of Guillena below, was spectacular.

We started the day in the dark, so I was glad to have Gerard walk with me. It turns out he's not traveling by bike, has done so on the Via Portuges before. He said  hat when he had done so, he missed the experience of traveling with others, the friendly conversation, and that's why he's walking the Via de la Plata now. However, he and Diego are much faster than I am and soon left me behind.

Most of our 20km was dappled with shade from the olives and oaks, passing through orchards and dry ranchland. My back struggled the most today and ached under the strain of a peak that simply hoards too much. In my excite my of finding a large market yesterday ( and in celebration of tracking down the pocket knife I'd been hoping to buy since Madrid) I bought enough Rioja, food, and snacks for two days. It's all fun and games until you have to carry it up a rocky hillside...for 4 1/2 hours. I began to convince myself of all the things I could live without to shed weight - do I really need this shampoo? Toothpaste? Tomorrow is longer...with less shade...yup, that shampoo is out. And I can think of a few other things that might get sent ahead to a p.o. box in Santiago.

When I arrived at the albergue in Castilblanco de los Arroyos, Diego, Gerard, and a Chilean man (who has been with us since Sevilla) were waiting outside for the hosts who would open the place up in about two hours.

When the doors opened, we were all greet d with a cold glass of water. It reminded me of Jesus' words: " I assure you that whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will certainly be rewarded." (Mark 9:41) 

AMEN +

After washing up, I ventured down into the town, enjoyed a cafe out on the breezy patio, but found the markets closed until evening. Yesterday I spent so much emotional and physical energy in pursuit of that which I didn't really even need. I'll return later for just enough for breakfast and a bocadillo, but I won't worry about it now. God provides for the lily and the sparrow and God will take care of me.