Lots of things happened today. First after a good breakfast with toast with tomato paste/olive oil and coffee I let Javier go first. He is cycling from his home in Granada to Santiago via the Mozarabe then via de la Plata. He would not be going to Merida but 90 km up to Alcuéscar after Don Benito. That will save a bit of time for him and he really don't feel much for Mérida. His Bike and gears are more professional but he doesn't take the Trail much. I could learn much from his minimalist gears. I don't know how many stages but it is probably (18+10)+(8+6+8)+28 three walking stages? 74 km.

After Campanario, the trail is probably the best in this whole segment. Nice, slight rolling hills, lakes, and the sight of the Hillside Town of Magacela looms in the horizon. It is like cycling heaven.

After the heaven comes the hell. After taking the picture of the fort leaving Magacela on the left I realized that I am no longer on the Camino. It seems that I am to the left of the trail. After 3 km I decided to commit to the trail and see if I can find a trail to the right to join back. Nope. It didn't happen. Not only that the trails stops and I got a bad patch of muddy soil. So bad that the Crocs sandal's soles gave way. Out of the wet patch I found a farmer walking with his dog and ask for directions to rejoin. Then I remove as much mud from my feet and let it dry before putting on my shoes. The Crocs was disposed later. In any case it had been three years and it had serve me well. Finally rejoin the Road but had to jump over the lock gate together with the bike as I was in private property. No one seems to be around and the farmer with the dog doesn't seems to be angry at my trespassing so I guess it is all ok.

Don Benito next and it seems like a big place. Sir Benny! A coffee break and found I am on a straight road to Medellin, even for walkers. Surprised to see a bicycle sign. Not much use as the speed limit on this road is 100 km/h.

Medellin is also another hillside town with a fort. Not only that, I think I there is a amphitheater midway (Roman?).

Then the last 28 km through marsh lake and roads besides the highway and here in San Pedro de Mérida at 4 pm. A few kilometers before that, 2 walking pilgrims. Later at the hostal I found that they are Germans. Probably will have dinner them later. Hostal Juan Porro, just outside San Pedro at the truck stop. 24 euros for double bed as they are out of single bed rooms.

Dinner with Christian and Angelika from Koblenz. They were walking the Camino Mozarabe from Malaga instead of Granada and will continue on the via de la Plata after Mérida. Perhaps we will meet again in Mérida tomorrow (just 15 km from here).

After dinner realized that the walkway is wide and since I am on the ground floor I can easily push the bike into the room. Not only that I ad even clean the bike (except the wheels). Wow. Never seen it so clean since day 0.