Day: 16
Date: Sunday, 4 June 2023.
From: Cabanillas To: Buiza
Distance (Planned): 24km Actual (Garmin): 23.8km Progress: 441/801km
Start Walking: 0602 End: 1143am Time: 5h40m
Ascent: 294m Descent: 144m
Terrain: Surprisingly flat with an equally surprising amount of road walking.
Weather: Lovely and cool, clear and then, hot.
Stayed At: Albergue Municipal Buiza – €5
General Comments:
- Today was one of surprises. It was surprisingly flat and there was far more road walking than I expected. When planning this route and looking at photos on the web, it seemed it would be one continual climb, going cross country and getting quite remote. None of that described today.
- It started out very beautiful though with the path hugging the edge of Bernesga River. As you can imagine, it was incredibly lush and green, and the birds were singing their hearts out. What a fabulous way to spend a Sunday morning?!
- From there, the yellow arrows directed me onto the edge of the road and that’s where I seemed to spend the rest of the day. Every now and then, I would spend time back near the river, but at the next town, back on then road I went.
- While that doesn’t sound all that pleasant, there was virtually no traffic and it made for easy walking. It dawned on me a bit later that today’s route followed the twist and turns of a narrow valley, so historically there may only have ever been one road in and out. Simply no space (or need) for another path.
- The path popped me into small towns and villages all day. Some were still slumbering when I walked through, and I suspect that is a permanent state for some, others has more happening including coffee and cake.
- In Buiza tonight, there are no places to eat. Luckily I threw a couple of dehydrated meals into my backpack before leaving Australia and they saved my bacon last night and will again tonight. In the last town I walked through today, I bought a stick of fresh bread. I thought I still had a sneaky sachet of peanut butter in my backpack, but No. So, it was bread for lunch and that’s it! Not quite fine dining, but I guess fresh bread is better than stale bread.
- Pilgrim Count: in the albergue tonight we have one German, three French and moi!
- And it’s been a day of ‘half ways’. I have completed well over half of my distance and I only have 15 walking days left. It’s hard to believe.
Top Tips:
- Always carry a good supply of snacks. Yes, it is extra weight on your back, but you never know when those snacks may become an actual meal.
- Pack more peanut butter and don’t leave that tube of Vegemite at home!
Buen Camino.
Life...one big adventure 
Ohhh interesting new path! And also the food situation. We got caught out on del norte a few times in the beginning stages. Glad I’d met a Belgian with a super heavy packed filled with ‘just in case’ things such as dehydrated meals and dried herbs to flavour them. 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now that sounds like the ideal walking partner! They get to carry the food and you get to eat it! Win win!
LikeLiked by 1 person
😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just picked up the wine at the local bar (that had no food)!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Perfect! 🍷🍷
LikeLike
Glad it was flat for you especially with no food!! Photos show interesting scenery too. Halfway! Well done. Xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Kerry. I made up for yesterday’s lack of food with a massive menu del dia today!😊
LikeLike
Great picture of the wolf. What a lucky shot! Good eye!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not really lucky…It is a sculpture afterall! 🤣
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, wow. I totally missed that! I thought it was a live wolf!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now, that would have been a special photo. A real David Attenborough moment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
WOOHOO! HALFWAY! (Time wise. 😉) Seems to be flying by.
I’ve been trying to work out how much I can resupply as I go on the Yorke Peninsula but it’s hard to judge what a ‘general store’ or ‘kiosk’ may stock. Think I might follow your lead and lug a couple of just-in-case dehydrated meals.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’d be making some phone calls, especially to find out opening hours. So many places are closed here, there are just no guarantees. Yep, pack those emergency rations to be on the safe side.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s good advice about opening hours, especially travelling in a traditional tourist beach area in the middle of winter. I’ll get on to that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wish I had a better grasp of Spanish so I could understand more about when things are opened and closed, especially with siesta time over here.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Did you know you can use your phone camera in conjunction with the Google Translate app to translate signs, etc? You can download the language you need so it doesn’t even need internet to work. It was a godsend in Japan.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good to know if I wasn’t such a tech Luddite! 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll email you with instructions. 🙂 Do you have Android or iPhone?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ta. I will check it out. I’m an android gal.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent. Me too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
👍👍
LikeLike
Actually, it shouldn’t matter which as it’s all in the app. Instructions coming soon!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Walk the Yorke has reasonable supplies in the main towns but the smaller ones almost close in winter. Rode the trail and being vegetarian made sure I had some dehydrated meals as well as peanut butter and Vegemite ofcourse.😀
LikeLiked by 2 people
Great Intel. Thanks.
LikeLike
Thanks so much for the info. Looks like I need to rejig some of my resupply plans. Staying in a few caravan parks so maybe they’ll accept a resupply package and I’ll leave on track supply to the bigger towns and not risk the smaller ones.
LikeLiked by 1 person
When are you setting off, H? 🚶♀️🚶♀️
LikeLike
Flight to Adelaide and then bus to Port Wakefield on 23/6. Set off the next day. Plan to reach Moonta Bay on 14/7. It’s getting close!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fabulous! Can’t wait to hear all about it. Happy trails to you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think this is the prettiest day yet, judging from your pictures. And food, who needs it😊 I’m not sure the vegimite would have done me much good though. Maggie
LikeLiked by 1 person
Any port in a storm, Maggie! Beggars can’t be choosers when food supplies are scarce!😆
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lucky you had those dehydrated meals. Beautiful photos. Love the wolf.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, the infrastructure on this camino is more hit and miss, but I am still enjoying it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Feast or famine, Mel! I should scoot up there with some supplies. How is the body feeling so far, or don’t you think about that unless you have to? More than halfway!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The body is feeling bloody ordinary after today’s exertions, but with a decent rest, I should be good to go again tomorrow. Looking forward to a rest day soon though. X
LikeLike
Excellent idea 😀💖
LikeLiked by 1 person
After that I will be on the home straight. How did that happen? 🚶♀️🚶♀️🚶♀️
LikeLike
We always have a few sachets of peanut butter in our backpacks – I hope you can buy some of this again along the way … it’s a life saver (well, that and your dehydrated meals of course). I can’t believe you’re over halfway – you only started walking the other day 😉. How do you know there’s an Aussie on the Camino – they’re the ones with Vegemite in their backpacks!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Normally I never leave home without my Vegemite. I must have had a brain freeze! 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
A true NZer has marmite not that horrid vegemite 😉 I definitely would carry peanut butter, high energy and protein.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Vegemite always trumps Marmite. We will have to disagree on this one!😆
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hahaha yep 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
There’s always this big debate in South Africa about whether Marmite or Bovril is the best – it’s 50/50 I think … I’m a Marmite girl and my husband prefers Bovril – so we have both in the cupboard 😄.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Good idea, and that saves any disagreements 😆
LikeLiked by 2 people
Equal opportunity pantry!
LikeLiked by 2 people
And there is no such thing as a ‘use by date’ with any of those spreads! They could survive a nuclear holocaust! 🤣
LikeLiked by 1 person
🤣
LikeLiked by 1 person
It seems you have to start early and finish early. I guess it just gets too hot to walk in the afternoon?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, it was 29C yesterday when I finished at 1pm. That’s a bit too warm for me.
LikeLike
Shame about the lack of Vegemite, hopefully you’ll run into another Aussie sometime who’s happy to share.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Unfortunately I didn’t run into any other Aussies except very early on. Maybe there is a business opportunity in supplying emergency packs of Vegemite?? 🙂
LikeLike