Quite a cool morning where jackets were required. Eventually warmed up and they were shed.

Rolling hills, scenery very different today. Basically foothills, green, very rocky. Path was mostly on the road and when it veered off it looked too treacherous so we kept to the safer bits.

The manager of the hostel remarked, when we asked if the kiwi was local, “yes, all we have is fruit, animals, and solar energy.” The area is desolate of people or any industry. Air is, of course, quite clean except when the animal loaded trucks pass by.

Merino wool (oveja merina) is one of their major business trade items here. Very very important for the economy we were told.

We passed a very large reservoir and looked up the details in tripadvisor:

“La Almendra is one of the largest reservoirs in the country (86.5 kms. when full) and has the highest dam (202 meters). It dams up the Tormes River before it flows into the Duero. When we were there in March 2017 the water level was critical due to the dry winter. At the time of this writing, September 14 2017 it must be almost dry.”

Yes, some water but clearly most of it gone. Green grass growing on the surface and indications of roman overpasses.

The accommodation is in an albergue. We have the only couples room, the other rooms have bunk beds, one large room with 10 beds a few rooms with just bunk beds. In the courtyard, here, many chickens, sheep, large dog, and a horse. They shared the outdoor laundry facility. Hand washing and sun drying. Others at the albergue sharing same.

QB just spent a considerable amount of time mopping up the floor of the albergue where we are staying for the night. Flooded shower, “inundado” in Spainish. Have learned the word all too well.