Day 26: El Cubo del Vino to Villanueva de Campeán

The best laid plans... You know the rest. Well today was supposed to be a day of 32km all the way up Zamora. However it was not to be. Yesterday, my Google articles feed had told me there was suspected Coronavirus in Montamarta, the next village stop after Zamora. Today, while I was on the road, that was not only confirmed but also that the main person infected had died. RIP. That made me decide immediately that I could not go as far as Montamarta, so it meant shortening this leg by two days. The other thing was the weather. Today was even hotter than yesterday. Already yesterday I had got somewhat burnt on my arms and neck and forehead. Today, even at 9am as I set out the sun was powerful and burning. The third consideration was that Simon had had to pull out today because of blisters and went ahead to Zamora by bus. 

So, as I was walking today all of these considerations were bring mulled over in my head. Today's walk was, however, very pleasant. Leaving El Cubo del Vino, past the church, the Camino follows a track next to the defunct Plasencia-Zamora railway line. The countryside round about was green and undulating and distinctly similar to England. After a while leaving the old railway line, the pathway passed through farm land to right and left, and little by little small vineyards appeared. The sandy path led me, in 14km, to the village of Villanueva de Campeán. This was to be the end of the journey today. Over a light lunch of omelette and salad with the TV in the corner telling of the latest increase in infections in Spain, and the cancellation of the Fallas in Valencia, I decided to cut the day short, because of the heat, and the leg short, because of the coronavirus situation. There are always more chances to pick up on lost time. So I got a lift into Zamora and planned the return home.

So that's it for this leg. I managed 125km in six days and am within sight of the end of the Via de la Plata part of the Camino. I think it's wise to sit out the rest of the coronavirus crisis back home. So my plan is to return in the autumn to take up this Camino again.