It’s a Requena Rest Day – second blog today.

Woke up early and thought I couldn’t get back to sleep so I watched Drunk Russians and Fails on YouTube. Daft but it makes me laugh. The Rooskies are basic but tough and seem like half decent folk. I think Trump is right to want closer relationships. Why generate conflict? However his regard for Russia and the UK seems unique in his repertoire. Hates everyone else! He’s the President. The elected President. People like Merryl Streep make me puke. Democracy, democracy, democracy. Until I don’t like the outcome. Wazzock. We had to put up with Thatcher. Didn’t grin but bared it. The people have spoken Streep and if you don’t like what they have said then push off somewhere else. Saudi. 

And while we’re on that. What a gas that we voted Brexit. The outcome will not be pleasant but just to let Londoners and the City know that there is one thing that they cannot buy makes it worth every penny (that they couldn’t buy the outcome with). The will of the people. And in the eyes of the polling booth, my fine feathered, silver spooned chums – all animals are equal. And none are more equal than others. 

Went back to sleep and then stayed in bed when I woke up, planning routes. Eventually got up and wandered around a bit.

Not a remarkable town by any means but ok. 

Had a great meal in quite a posh restaurant where the owner spoke English. First time I’ve spoken English for a week, except on the phone to She who must be adored. And she is. Local wine, chickpea stew, lamb chops and flan. All perfect. Less than ten quid! 

The wine heritage of Requena is a long one, there’s even a Wine Pilgrimage from here to Santiago de Compostela, the reputed burial place of the remains of Saint James the Great, one of the 12 apostles. That reputation brings hundreds of thousands of pilgrims across the plains of Spain every year. But not on the wine route.

I’ve been thinking. The weather on the telly is not great up north. It’s getting colder and Friday it’s due for heavy rain in this region. That means that at the height I’m walking at it will be snow. The forecast reckons snow over 500 metres. I’ll be well over that. New plan. 

1. Forget wild camping unless circumstances are forced. Hurray.

2. Stick to the mountain route but take mountain roads and not footpaths unless essential. 

3. Stay where there are hostels and be prepared to walk short or long days to move from hostel to hostel.

4. Where I take footpaths it has to be the GR7 which is known and recognised by the local authorities.

5. What were the rules again? Sorry. Can you repeat that?

Tonight I’m a Madrileno. 

Good. I’ve got a plan. 

19 kms tomorrow to Chera. A hostel costing £10 for the night up in the mountains above here. Wednesday 30 kms to Villar de Arzobispo to a really homely hostel with great mountain food costing £25for the night. Thursday 33 kms to Bejis to another homely hostel for £23 for the night. From then on the GR7 gives a hostel each night for a while, so I can go back on path if I want, dependent on the weather. All is better now my mind and plan are clear.

Night night.