Friday, 7 February 2020

Day 15: Casar de Cáceres to Embalse de Alcántara

Yesterday was a tough day of sore ankles and humbled spirits. Today has been one of the days which makes the Camino so special and leaves me feeling so contented. 

The day began with Holy Mass which I celebrated in the apartment we had rented in Casar. My portable Mass kit came into its own again. After Mass and a repack of the backpack, we headed off to the place which had been recommended to us, a churrería on Casar. After churros and coffee, and more coffee, we set out on the Camino for another day. We began with the Angelus outside the little chapel of St James on the edge of the town. 
Once on the route, we met our first fellow traveller of the day. Ian from New Zealand walked for a good 8km with us. This first section, through farm land with cows and lambs, and views of mountains in the distance went very easily. 
After 8km Ian went on ahead while Tim and I spent some time just sitting and looking out on the vast scenery of dehesa and rolling countryside. The next section, following ancient Roman roads, passed through countryside that would have seemed normal in Derbyshire or the lowlands of Scotland, through sheep farms, with the residue of two millennia of civilisation. 
The third section of the route was in sight of the great Embalse de Alcántara, the flooded valleys into which the Tagus, or Tajo, River and the Almonte flow. The vast reservoir was to be our backdrop for the last part of the day, and for our overnight stay. We met a young German woman, Christina, along the way and she accompanied us on the last section of today's walk. It is difficult to explain the awesome grandeur of the great rivers following into the vast reservoir, juxtaposed to the magnificent engineering of the new high speed train line, and it's great viaducts, ensuring the straightness of the route.
Finally we arrived at the Albergue of the Embalse. We met up with friends from along the route and enjoyed an evening of simple food, and wine, and great company...all that the Camino should be. 

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