Merida to Aljucen

Just some random thoughts. 

• Resting during the afternoon doesn't mean sleeping.  It means not moving, e.g. just laying down on the bed and recharging the mind and body. 
• The remnants of hurricane Joaquin are due to hit Extremedura tomorrow.  The prediction is downpours all day.  Hiking to Alcuescar will be very difficult.  
• Finally had a dirt path today for some distance. They are easiest on the feet.  The stone/pebble farm roads are the worst;  those stones very from 1/2 inch to inches and they are all over and interminable, making walking painful.  Paved roads aren't much better,  but if I have to choose. I believe that it was miles of farm road and the resulting friction that caused the blisters with my  Keene walking shoes. 
• Uneventful hike of 10 miles to Aljucen which is a very small village. 
• For the next four days,  my thoughts will tend towards an easier pace.  Met a nice group of folks yesterday.  1 Spanish,  1 english young lady.  But they are on a mission.  They are averaging 25 miles a day. Not my vision. They want to get to Santiago. I know that I can't make it. 

The Roman aquaducts in the early morning sun as I leave Merida

The Embalce de Prosperpina ( Merida Reservoir )

Dirt trail portion of the El Camino. So thankful to not be on roads or farm roads or anything with lots of small rocks.

Drawings underneath a bridge along the El Camino. From left to right,  yellow arrow making the Via de La Plata, scallop shell symbol of the El Camino, drawing of St James and the symbol of the St James of Compostela.