I didnt care if I was the only one getting up early. I calculated sunrise would be about 8.40 am and I wanted to be near my tree. I didnt have exact coordinates but I knew it was close to the descent into Hornillos where the Choirmaster had lounged at the Irish bar and met the English Medicine Woman on our 2018 visit to these parts.

So I headed out the door and left a bag of weight for the luggage transfer guy to carry. I stuck a bottle of wine in the side of the bag and sent a WhatsApp saying I hope you don’t mind! (They sent one back saying they did mind but I didnt read it until later – oh well)

I walked almost in circles in that town. The arrows were very hard to follow with only a headlamp in the dark and my phone app was getting confused too. I eventually found my way out and called my beloved and suggested he talk to me as it was very dark and a dog was barking and yes, I was a little scared. But I wanted to see my tree.

Anyway it wasn’t long before some other headlamps came up behind. Another two from Ireland. This time from the south. Sinead and Cathill pronounced car hill. The t is silent. I learnt a lot in a short period of time. We passed the first open bar and I said good bye and went in for a cafe con leche. I met a couple from Utah who were going to leave shortly too. I drank the cafe con leche and thanked the nice man serving. I’d stay there next time if I ever come back. He was very helpful and made great coffee.

I headed up the hill and had to be very careful on the dirt tracks. The water was still hanging around from yesterday and I didnt want to slip like the Lady from Atlanta did outside of Azofra. It was still dark but slowly the light started spreading across the landscape.

It didnt seem too long until i found my tree. I remember the trauma I endured at this location on our first camino. We had walked from Burgos and it was hot and my feet were very sore. We sat for a rest and I noticed the tree. Anyway I was lucky this time. Even thought there was very little sunrise because the clouds were hanging about in the east, the sky had a tinge of colour in the west behind the tree. I was pretty happy and cant wait to get home and check out my camera photos.

I walked on to Hornillos and hoped to have breakfast there. It really is quite a grand landscape heading down the hill and I was now quite hungry in the rush to get to my tree.

The Swedish hippies from Grañon passed me and I followed them through the town. No bars open. Nada. There had been a very basic tienda opened at the beginning but who wants to go back when you can go forward ?

As we headed out the other side of town the woman told me it was a bad town. She could feel it. Her feet stuck like glue for every step. I said “let’s hope the next town is a happy town if we are all staying there”. I walked on. I could hear some moaning or chanting or something. Maybe she was clearing the spirits. I was happy to keep walking.

All in all it was quite a pleasant walk today despite the distance. The weather was cool in the first half of the day and I arrived in Hontanas not feeling too bad.

I passed a sign that gave two choices. Last time I did the camino only one choice was there and I would’ve taken it this time. But there was a second choice this time . Which one would I take?

After checking in I went straight to the spa. This is the only albergue I know of with a spa and there was no way I was not going to stop there. Didn’t exist on previous visits. Just fabulous!

Then dinner with the Irish friends which included the Irish fixit man, the German fixit man (who likes cats) the Irish Mountain Climber, the Canadian lady, and a few familiar faces who had been dropping in and out of the same towns over the last couple of weeks.

Paella and home made flan – great end to a a very successful day.

Buenas noches