Challenging Times

 

Challenging Times (Day 11: Batea to Fabara)

Fabara, Spain

It's 6:00 a.m. and Deb and I are leaving Batea. Temperature forecast says it stays below 80 until 9:00 a.m.. and below 90 until 12:00 p.m.

The weather, which is in an unusual and brutal summer heatwave here, makes certain types of hiking and activities simply impossible. To be specific, anything after 12:00 p.m. is essentially dangerous.

Vineyards outside Batea in the breaking dawn

But these weather conditions are unbelievable, even for this time of year in Spain, and require changing my expectations.

And we have 18 mile stages coming up, with few if any, support locations between the start and the end of a day’s hike. Segments of these stages will be along asphalt roads.

From AI Gemini: "In 90°F (32°C) ambient temperatures, an asphalt road can reach 120°F to 150°F (49°C to 66°C), especially in direct sunlight.

Two-thirds of the way to Fabara. 10:30 a.m. and we have eight miles completed.

Deb and I are having serious discussions about how to proceed. The continuation of our Camino is not in doubt, but the method of doing it must change. 

The only reasonable way to continue is to limit ourselves to a maximum of 12 Mi a day, and that goes with a 6:00 a.m. start time for walking.

I believe there will be a number of days where we will arrange for a transportation pickup in advance at some point along the Camino. 

Our staying place for the night. Actually, next door is an overnight apartment.

 

Noon, and we have arrived in Fabara - according to plan. Outstanding!

The vibe in Fabara is incredible. Everybody is so nice and helpful.

Our hostess engaged in animated conversation about meaningful topics. 

The server at the restaurant was so kind in going over the menu with us. Questions, answers, humor, explanations and delivered with such patience. 

People in the street were glad to help us with directions, and all with a smile.

According to our Hostess, we are the first Americans to stay at La Gatera.

(Fabara) View from our balcony. 

6:00 p.m. We have a balcony and I'm watching the evening swallows flying all around. They are flying literally just feet in front of me as they do all their spins and turns and dives and climbs.  It looks frantic but I'm sure there's a method.

9:00 p.m. We go to bed in order to get 7 hours of sleep.

Tomorrow is another day.