Aljucen to Alcuescar

Picked up a hiking partner - Beverly of Washington state.  She set quite a pace today,  close to 3 mph. I'm exhausted. My pace is more like 2 mph, but we kept up her pace to get here in just under 5 hours. She is easy to talk with and we have many shared experiences.  Of course,  one does not really make small talk all that much on the El Camino.  We are hiking.  But afterwards ...

We have a decision tomorrow.  The next two stages break down into either 1 really long and 1 really short day or two moderate days.  She wants the former and I prefer the latter.  So we may separate.  That is how it is on the Camino.  ... But we enjoyed hiking the 12 miles together.

Hurricane Joaquin remnants are still in the forecast for tomorrow.  Intermittent thunderstorms.


Church in Aljucen just before sunrise.  Already on the trail.

Some of today's paths on the El Camino.

Passing by a ranch.

Stone cross just outside of Alcuescar

Alcuescar lies nestled in a valley.  Getting here took us up hills that lasted for hours to climb.