Day 5 -23.9km - Puente to Ayegui

Monday was a day of trudging. Today is the start of the Plodding. The paths we are walking aren't as strenuous but the long days walks require physical and mental strength to keep walking.

Everything aches. The soles of our feet, knees, backs, hips and heads (that last one is probably the wine!).

The bustle of the morning starts each day around 6am when everyone wakes up, gingerly rising from bed onto sore legs, get washed and changed for the day, basic breakfast and we are usually on our way around 7am.

Today we set out from Puente over an old bridge and began our walk.

We plodded alongside fields of yellow rape plants, olive trees and grape vines. The first few miles went quite well until the ascent to our first town of Maneru. Vince and co were sat outside their accomodation nursing hangovers and eating a cold tin of beans for breakfast. We were not envious!

We plodded through town and along more tracks, before the longer and harder ascent into Cirauqui. This hilltop town had steep streets and quant houses, however living there you would need hiking gear to go to the shop!

We plodded along until after 13km we entered the village of Lorca. Here we stopped and had a light bite of coffee and Tortilla with chorizo, before continuing.

After the 12mile/19km distance is when things hurt. The feet get extremely sore, the knees, legs and neck start to ache and the energy levels are depleted.

One foot in front of the other. Keep plodding.

Tonight we are staying in a municipal albergue - a pilgrim accomodation owned by the local town. It is above a sports hall.

We are joined by Liz, Lawrence and David from yesterday and shared a pilgrim dinner of Spag Bol, followed by pork steaks and chips, and a chocolate mousse. With half a bottle of wine each for 10euro all in.

Now it's time to lay in bed and hope that the sleep heals our aching bodies enough to repeat tomorrow....