May 15. Carcaboso to Plasencia to Salamanca to Madrid

Culture shock day We awoke in small village had a very small breakfast and checked out of our small hotel. We walked 12 km in about 3 hours to Plasencia. This confirmed that we made the right decision to terminate the trek because my ankle started to weaken and bother me after the first hour. At the large town of Plasencia, we were able catch a bus to the city of Salamanca. There we walked to the train station and caught a train into Madrid, a very large city.

Outdoor escalators in Plasencia.

Walled city.

While we were in Salamanca, I booked our flight home to Montreal, and got a hotel in Madrid. It was in the city center so as soon as we started walking to the hotel, we encountered hordes of people.

After a good shower, we walked half a block to a great restaurant. Susie's salad and my ox tail were excellent.

Then I checked the train schedule from Dorval to Kingston. Bad luck, we arrive after the last train. Fortunately, I was able to get a one way car rental to Kingston. We will be home tomorrow night.

May 14. Galisteo to Carcaboso

Yesterday I had to admit that I'm not able to do the walking that I did in 2018. The ankle that I broke playing hockey in 1986 is giving me ongoing problems. With the added weight of my backpack, Susie tells me that I am listing to the left. This pronounced lean is worse when we walk on rougher paths and causes more stress on my legs and torso. By yesterday afternoon, I was hurting and tired, which was abnormal for just walking. That's when we decided to consider going home.

Easier said than done. We have to walk to a town with bus service so that we can ride to a town with train service so that we can travel to a city with air service to Canada.

This morning we walked on the wall around Galisteo. Very impressive and old.

Today's walk was mostly on roads, which was good for my situation. Only 11 km today so we were in our hotel early. Had time to be tourists here.