Day: 2
Date: Saturday 20 May, 2023.
From: Tres Cantos To: Manzanares el Real
Distance (Planned): 27km Actual (Garmin): 27.24km
Progress: 54/801km
Start Walking: 0633 End: 145pm
Time: 7h7m
Ascent: 571m Descent: 377m
Terrain: Climbing virtually all day on wide dirt roads.
Weather: A lovely chilly start and then hot. Clouded over a bit later with the lightest sprinkle of rain.
Stayed At: Hostel La Pedriza – €24.50
General Comments:
- I was surprised when I woke up this morning that my muscles were not screaming. Yes, there was plenty of stiffness and weariness, but overall I was pretty pleased with myself. Maybe that’s not wise.
- I finished off yesterday with a small blister and treated it this morning before pulling on my boots. Unfortunately this small blister turned into a beast today and covers the majority of my left heel. Too much information, I know. Sorry about that. I think blisters are just part of the body’s adjustment to being out on the trail day after day for long distances. Thank goodness for Compeed.
- Escaping the confines of the city, the path dropped me down into a gorgeous gully or valley which was something out of a story book complete with bobbing rabbits, horses grazing quietly in the paddocks, and sheep running madly along the road.
- All this beauty had to end though, as what goes down must come up again. And that set the scene for the day. Constant climbing with a little reprieve every now and then and then up some more
- It was like Pitt St out there on the path. Being a Saturday plenty of Spaniards decided to get out and enjoy their countryside. There were dog walkers, friend walkers, joggers, bushwalking clubs, and endless mountain bike riders. While I commend the bikers gusto and bravery at tackling some of the rougher sections of the path, I would have appreciated if they would have let me know they were bearing down on me. I was off in La La Land enjoying the serenity and next minute I was diving off the path. Obviously in Spain it is not cool to have a bell on your bike.
- Temperatures climbed pretty steeply as soon as the sun got high and as I have written in the past, the warmer it gets, the slower I go. So it was a very welcome sight to come over yet another hill and see Manzanares el Real. I had planned to stay with some local people who are very strong supporters of the Camino and have set up accommodation in their backyard for walkers, but they said I could not check in until 4:30 PM and I definitely needed a shower before then.
- I am loving that people I meet on the path are starting to wish me a Buen Camino and I have had a few animated conversations with people, admittedly I missed 75% of what they were saying, but it is lovely to see and hear the passion that some Spaniards have for walking a Camino.
Top Tips:
- Make sure you stop every now and then and turn around to see the view behind you. I have done that a few times and have enjoyed seeing Madrid ever so slowly fading into the background. Unfortunately it doesn’t make me feel like I’ve covered much territory so far, but I know each day I am that little bit further down the road.
- Take plenty of water on this stretch as there is nothing much by the way of services and definitely no water etc.
- The Buen Camino app is a good accompaniment to the signage, but I am finding it very slow to update i.e. Me as the little blue dot takes forever to catch up to the Me standing somewhere completely different muttering at my phone . Do you think that is a GPS/satellite thing?
Buen Camino.
Life...one big adventure 
It all looks terribly dry and dusty out there and summer has yet to begin. I hope there are no nasty wild fires. Not good news re the blister, hope it doesn’t cause you too much pain.
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Yes, it is far from lush, but I guess the plants are used to that. I am expecting it to be more lush and ‘softer’ as I get further North. Blisters are on the mend. I probably have the uglies feet in Spain, but they are functional! 😆
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You know, stopping to look behind you really is excellent advice.
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Ta. I am sure I read that somewhere, probably on someone else’s Camino blog.
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I look behind a lot, but I never see Madrid there. Such ugly skyscrapers, though! I liked the look of Manzanares better. The terrain looks familiar to my eyes but it’s steeper. So dry here too, but a little blessed rain arrived this evening. Hope you stay dry, Mel.
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Thanks, Jo. That’s the wonderful thing about walking, every day delivers new vistas .
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Gorgeous mountain scenery. So sorry about the blister. That can be a real joy-killer. Happy and quick healing.
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Ta. On the mend as we speak.
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Blisters are no joke on a long walk. Hope it comes good soon.
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Yep, just got to get the body used to the programme,
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Mel, I am enjoying your walk as much or even more than you 🙂 Challenging physically as well as mentally, brilliant. Love the wild lavender, I would’ve grabbed some to sticky by my pillow.
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Thanks Suzanne. Hopefully another good day ahead.
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I’m super jealous – not of the climbing (nor the blisters), but the beautiful (Camino) landscape! Ha, it’s only on the Camino that even weed will look good 😁. Buen Camino my friend.
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Yes, perhaps there is a fine line between bloom and weed!
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lovely photos. Since you started your Camino I have been busy with my volunteer ( Friends of the Library) so I am way behind your Camino story but I will try to catch up. I like your photos !! Thanks again for sharing.
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No problem and no pressure. I hope I haven’t been boring people senseless with these daily posts. Have a good day.
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oh I like to read anything about the Camino. It is fantastic that you find time to share as you are walking. I know I couldn’t do it.
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And what an amazing Camino reading list you shared today! Who would have thought that one path could generate so many words?
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yes.. and I am finding more books about the Camino ( last week-end – as I was helping with a book sale at my local library). Those books date from 2011 or 2012. I will share them here another time. Take care. Enjoy each day walking in Spain.
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Have a look at Sinning Across Spain by Ailsa Piper and The Year We Seized The Day. Both by Australian authors and good reads. Happy reading.
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I will check it out …Thanks
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👍
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