San Bartolomé de Pinares to Ávila

Sunrise 

Novel!

 The Camino today, a steep climb along narrow rocky tracks to the highest point of the Levante.This may give you an idea of how steep it was....

The highest point of The Levante with our Italian Pilgrim friend, Antonio.

A well earned rest in Tornadizos de Ávila

And even when we arrived in Ávila, still the climb continues.......

Palacio de los  Velada

Plaza de Santa Teresa

 The Walls of Ãvila
View towards the Sierra de los Gredos

Marker to Santiago de Compostela 

Knocker!
Basilica de San Vicente
Detail from Sarcophagus to the Martyrs 

Catedral de Ávila
One of twelve lions guarding the Catedral representing the Apostles

 

Cebreros to San Bartolomé de Pinares

We are now in the Province of Castilla y Leon. 

We started with a steep climb this morning. The sun wasn't high enough yet to light the village we'd just left but the view from Puerto de Arrebatacapas (1068m) across to the mountains was wonderful.

It was there that we missed a yellow arrow and took a wrong turning making us walk an extra km 🙄

The Camino took us along brooks and through areas recovering from wild fires.

Whenever we saw a brook we knew at some point it would need to be crossed.....but hopefully without getting wet feet.

 We walked through herds of cattle and fields of horses; under eagles soaring high above us and over puddles full of tadpoles and newts.

Most of the time there are no cars, planes or trains to be heard so other sounds carry. The birdsong around us is the most amazing, from the familiar blackbirds and doves to cuckoos and hoopoes who are notoriously shy.

There is the occasional noisey tractor or in this case a mighty digger maintaining some of the track.

 We were caught by the rain today. When this happens, there's a rush to off-load your backpack and balance it on your boots and poles to keep it off the mud, open it, find and put on your jacket, stow your fleece, close and load up your backpack once again. By the time you've done this you often find it's stopped raining ....... but you can be ever tell!

 Signpost in middle of a field.

Thanks terrain is a geology teacher's dream

San Bartolomé, which had been hidden from us until the last moment, suddenly appeared in a dip in the mountain and we began our zig-zagging down the steep descent until we reached the albergue.

A delicious Pilgrim Menu was served in the Hostal el Patio

Statue of Eloy Gonzalo,  the hero of Cascorro (The Cuban War) who grew up in San Bartolomé

Gate to church of San Bartolomé adorned with flowers (15th Century)