2. Xàtiva

It was a 6 o’clock rise this morning. After taking a quick photo of my perigrino companion last evening, Primo Giovanni, I set off for another big day of walking.

The streets of these old towns have their own beauty and serenity in the early morning.

Here was the polica station where I got the key last evening. I have seen many polica, often in the most out of the way places and they have all been really friendly. I have wondered whether they are searching for some escapee from somewhere.

The variety in bridges in Spain is enormous.

And their houses are painted in many bright colours.

Old Espana.

As I passed through one village the doors to the enormous church were open. I went in and the priest was celebrating mass. I joined the queue of people, by far the youngest and received the host. Obviously I wasn’t consuming it fast enough because the priest mentioned something, grabbed it from my hand, and shoved it in my mouth.

Here is one of the pedestrian bridges that pilgrims dread - lots of walking for not much distance gained. Still, better than trying to cross the busy roads.

Tempting, but just out of reach.

I have come across many dogs today. They look and sound fierce and thankfully most are behind fences. I have been bailed up by a few and feared I was about to be bitten but so far so good. I need a staff.

I was happily rambling along a quiet country lane when I realised I hadn’t seen any arrows for a while. My worst fears were confirmed when I came to an intersection and nothing. Dejected, I began to retrace my steps (a pilgrim hates to backtrack). I decided to flag down a passing farmer and ask the way. He and his son confirmed my mistake and kindly offered to give me a ride back 2 kilometres to the pedestrian bridge (yes, that bridge) where I went wrong. This was grace enough and then he went to the boot and got out 3 juicy sweet oranges (Geoff and Annemarie, this was my first ‘ossetti’ and it was very much appreciated. Ken, you would have loved them. My new friends posed for a photo. The older one has walked the Camino Norte so Mie and Mary I thought again of your wonderful walk there last year.

Back to careful watching for signs.

Those hills in the distance are a sign I’ll be climbing soon enough.

Another way for getting pilgrims to the other side of busy roads. 

I caught up with Primo, who had passed me while I was being sidetracked and we shared lunch in a little village. At the next village, we bumped into two more pilgrims - Jean-Pierre and Danielle from Strasbourg (also on their 7th camino). As it turns out, I caught up with them later and we are sharing a room in casa rural this evening - the solidarity of the road.

It was another long day in which I walked well over 30 kilometres. My feet and legs are feeling a bit weary but it’s amazing how a shower and a brief sit can help. Tomorrow there are hills to climb as we begin to turn from south to west, in fact I think I am at the southern most point of this camino. So, with accommodation sorted, and clothes washed it is time to find something to eat. Such is life on the road.