On dual objectives

I left Australia with the objective of walking a Camino, and another objective of seeing more of Spain, namely Andalusia and regions north. My plan was to allow more time than on my previous Caminos so that I could see some of the rich history along this route - the Via de la Plata, a route from Roman times, that subsequent peoples used as their thoroughfare including the Christians a 1,000 yrs later to get to Santiago de Compostella. That is - some shorter days and a few tourist days along the way.

The weather pattern this year was hotter than the average with most days well over 30 and some 40. So after walking from perhaps 6 or 7 am until 11 or perhaps 1 pm, the normal afternoon state becomes one of being semi-comatose. The mood for seeing things was not there.

The objectives started duelling. So one day back a bit on a rest day, giving the minor blisters a rest I thought of a better plan. Stop walking and focus on the history. After all there is a reasonable bus network here. And the "history" is mostly at an altitude of 1,000 m plus or minus, with more manageable temperatures.

After having walked 250 kms, I have now used a few buses (and a bread van) and seen Caceres, Placensia, Salamanca, Avila, now in Segovia and will finish with time in Toledo. Most of these are UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Torremejia and its ilk aren't on the same list.

For those paying attention to the geography of my blogs you might have already been curious about my speed.

Caminos have their place. At the moment I think Caminos only succeed as a single objective - tourism afterwards. There is a state of mind and body that you get into after 3 weeks or so. It cannot be explained - to know you just have to do it for yourself without distraction. And pick a weather pattern that suits you. Except if you are crazy, and there are a few of them.

Now back to Segovia. This morning I walked around the valley floor below Segovia. The locals have this place to escape the heat of city.