Camino Levante - Day 7 - Higueruela

Around 22 km today as we split this stage into two days. The albergue only have 2 beds further up the hill so the three of us decided to stay in a hostal again to give the two Spaniards a chance to stay at the albergue, or anyone that attempts the almost 40 km today today from Almansa. Beginning to feel a little decadent and spoilt by the past two days. In any case a twin sharing at this hostal is only 30 euros (20 for single) and the reastaurant/bar is the same establishment, no unnecessary walk.

The wind are strong and refreshingly cold until noon for the past two days. Then it gets real hot. Today even the afternoon is cxool. The weather may change and be wet over the weekend.

Preparing for close to 30 km tomorrow. At least there is a town around the 11 km mark unlike the past few days where there were no town in between the day's walk. Two more days to a major La Mancha city Abacete.

Met a skinny cat here in Higueruela. Fed a small tin of tuna, very hungry. The little girl says it's her cat but it is probably the neighborhood cat living on scraps. She has a name though as even the other kids address her as Mansita as they walked by. This town is as small as Alpera yesterday.

Camino Levante - Day 6 - Alpera

The castle at Almansa is the probably of Moorish origin based on the name of the town. Looks even better in the morning.

Around 22 km for today and tomorrow as we didn't want to do the almost 40 km stage. The detour only cost 4 km and the hostal the we called earlier yesterday has vacancy at only 18 euros each for the 3 of us in a room.

Nice landscape with a long table plateau. Have to walk around it to Alpera. Even though Alpera is not part of the Camino Levante there are arrow waymarkings to the place! I guess there are enough pilgrims who would rather make the deviation rather slough out an almost 40 km distance. Alpera is a small town but at least has a hostal and restaurants.

I really like this town! Though they are not on the official way, there must be enough pilgrims making this detour rather than do an almost 40 km day that the town folks are familiar with pilgrims. They even have yellow arrows leading to their town and out and I find them particularly friendly to pilgrims. Even the hostal did not ask for payment and we can run a tab with out food and drinks until we check out tomorrow. Lots of trust here. Plus lots of stray cats that seems well fed. Maybe the friendliness is also because they are a smaller town?

Camino Levante - Day 5 - Almansa

27 km day with clear blue sky. Even the winds are cool the sun is too much in the afternoon. Decided to break tomorrow's 38 km with a detour making it around 20-21 km in two days. Hostal tonight as when we phone the albergue run by nuns, we were told they only have one bed.

Too tired to write much else now...

Camino Levante - Day 4 - La Font de la Figuera

Short 19 km today but with no village or town in between. The German pilgrim from form yesterday managed to arrive just in time for dinner after 8 pm and today the three of us walked together. The only other pilgrims are a Spaniard Parco and an Italian Paolo but they are always the early riser.

Finding hot food is quite a chore here. Most places are just too lazy to serve a warm meal. Mostly they says only bocadillos (sandwich). The other day's lunch after begging they say no hot meal, the best they can do is paella. Go figure....

Again the obligatory visit to the police station here to get the keys to the albergue. At least for today, we were redirected to the ayuntamento (city hall) where the registration for the albergue way faster. I seriously think the local police should be trained better in data entry. They seems to take forever to fill in data in the computer.

The next two days will be a challenge. 27 and 38 km without a town in between.

The albergue here in La Font de la Figuera is nice, new and cozy but with a major flaw. Only two mattresses are available and they are already taken up by the first two when we arrive. Michael and Manfried (German pilgrim) just can't take the hard surface so they are off to find a pension/casa rural. I am OK with it so now I have the other room all to myself. We will meet later at the supermarket to buy provisions for tomorrow and also for dinner. After a nice shower, there is Paolo showing me the walnuts from the tree right outside the albergue. They taste great (and natural) but slightly wet unlike those you get at the supermarket. Always nice to try to pick fruits along the way. I have a feeling it will no longer be possible after today. Already the orange groves in the past few day has been replaced today with olive trees.

This is the last town in the Valencia district as tomorrow we will officially be crossing to La Mancha.

Camino Levante - Day 3 - Moixent

Yesterday we were in a nice tourist albergue. Today back to the regular one. So dingy that we have decided to take the extra matteres outside since the days are still hot and nights are not cold (yet). Better view of the hills than a stuffy room with only 3 bunk beds. Just hope it doesn't rain tonight. If so would have to go back into that stuffy room.

Again today have to go to the police to get the keys. No escort this time and albergue is far away behind the red cross at the edge of town. The only good thing is a hot shower and not even a box for donations. The police to get the keys take like half an hour as they take so long to record everything from your passport. Bureaucracy.

Met a nice German guy but he stopped at the last town as he does sketches with acrylic pencils. Hope he makes it here.

Shoes. Yes, got a nice pair of Ascics runners at Canals. Comfy and no new blisters. Now for some nice dinner. Lunch was just an egg and cheese bocadillos.

Camino Levante - Day 2 - Xàtiva

30.4 km today. Markings are not very good but thanks to Google manage to put us back on track a couple of times.

The Crocs held up pretty well surprisingly. Still would need to get a pair of shoes probably in a big enough town tomorrow.

Lots of orange and persimmon plantation along the way. At Alzira witness a 125 years old ceremony where many of the women and men from the surrounding townships dressed up. No idea what is the occasion but I guess the Spanish don't need much of an excuse to dress up or celebrate.

At Probla Llarga a bike race and a nice lunch with Paella Valenciano, the signature paella with chicken and hare meat.

Finally at Xàtiva with a Moorish looking pavilion and and at the albergue, a nice view of the church and laundry (badly needed washing).

There seems to be even more town names here starting with 'Al' than in Andalucia, testament to the Moorish (Arabic) origin.

Tomorrow would be slightly better at 28 km. Good thing for the company that makes the hot day walking easier. In fact, talk so much that it feels quite different than a regular Camino.

Camino Levante - Day 1 - Algemesí

Who on earth design this Camino with a 38 km on the first day? Arghhhhh. Anyway it is mostly walking in a extended urban environment. Occasionally rice fields and persimon fields. Was expecting oranges but didn't see any.

In any case as we started the day late around 9 am today and at 5 pm we were only 24 km in Almussafes. No albergue there, plus my boots virtually disintegrated just before arriving. I thought the same boots i  used 2 years ago for my Camino Del Norte may still have enough life left for the 10-11 days here. I was wrong. I guess the storage during this period has somehow caused binding of the boots to break sown. Have to use my Crocs sandal for the 2 km to Benifaió and train to Algemesí. Yes, cheated 12 km but hey, at least we save some money without having to pay for another hostal or pension and also put us back on track. As tomorrow is Sunday I have no choice but to continue walking with my Crocs sandal. Hope the Crocs will hold until Monday when the shops open again so I can buy a new pair (probably a track runner).

Funny that we have to register at the albergue with the police in Algemesí. It was already 8 pm when we arrive and a bit of a distance to the albergue and the police was really nice to give us a ride in their police car. Really nice!

Camino Levante - Day 0 - Valencia

Leaving Mollina on the train to Valencia with Michael. After checking into a hostal, found the Asociación de Amigos del Camino de Santiago to get our credential to walk the Camino Levante for tomorrow. Now all set but not before a paella dinner at the playa (beach) as Valencia is the birthplace for this dish.

This is my first Camino walking in autumn as all my previous ones were in Spring. It would be a different experience. Then again the day is still quite hot but the evenings are nice and cool here in the south. The sunrise are much later now than in Spring.

La Mancha country here I come.

Ready to go again

Still packing. This time a short route around 10 days? The plan is the tunnel route from Irun to Santo Domingo.

Day 10 - Last post of my via Francigena

Finally. Now it's a slow ride to find the b&b that I had booked earlier considering this is the Easter weekend near the Tiburtina station. Actually more of pushing the bike as there are so many tourist. Actually I am officially now a tourist too! It's not easy to move around Rome without bumping into a tourist spot. Too many, heres 2 of them. The place I am staying are more residential and its nice to see how the people of Rome actually live. Got a flat (third) right outside the street of the b&b! Fixed it at the b&b and have it cleaned up. Will be sad to let it go, my steed for the last 10 days.

Tomorrow I will just relax and maybe ride along the Appian way, the only thing I have not done in Rome.

The experience of riding a bicycle to Rome is great, but I would probably walk my next pilgrimages. It is very tough and I have to give up or push on some of the trails. It may be faster but you experience more when walking.

That's it. Till the next pilgrimage.