The final leg of the Camino del Estrecho, with the official end point in the city of Puerto Real – across the bay from Cadiz. As the next section, the via Augusta, starts in Cadiz and overlaps the Estrecho, we planned to finish and start again in Puerto Real. Therefore our day was primarily walking, with the last leg on an air-conditioned bus. After 28km in the hot sun, it was a well earned finish!
We started early-ish knowing it was to be our longest day. No intermediate refreshment opportunities were anticipated, but after 20 minutes we found a roadside coffee (we left M-S before the cafes had opened). The path was quite pleasant, with rolling hills, scrubby bushland and some farming. The most notable farm was a pig farm, from which we acquired an accompanying cloud of flies determined to go up your nose, in your ears, or behind your sunglasses. The smell of the pigs was pleasant in comparison 😕
Unfortunately the nicest part of the day was the first 20km. Once we got closer to civilization we had to endure a trail adjacent to the salt marshes (tolerable), rough gravel (less tolerable), adjacent to both the railway tracks and motorway (verging on intolerable) and 30⁰ temperatures ( enough to make you lose it 😡). Hence the enthusiasm for the bus with ac!
We have 2 nights in the old city of Cadiz (yet another of those “one of the oldest cities in Europe”). Being Saturday night, the place is hopping. We had a leisurely beer, tapas and coffee in some random bar, but it was an inspired choice as it was a locals bar, so very colourful and great people watching. Tomorrow is a rest day and may well involve more beer and tapas!
2saunter 