Tábara to Rionegro del Puente - (electric wheelchair style)

My Camino has turned into a road trip. Progress today has been 90% road and only 10% farm tracks. 

Once again I stitched 2 day stages together, the first running north to Santa Marta de Tera, the second east to Rionegro del Puente. I cut the corner diagonally saving 16 km and avoiding impassable rocky sections. Is this cheating, am I missing out on my Camino experience? - well maybe.

My views are often of ramshackled roadside dwelling time has forgotten.  I guess every country has this phenomena as agriculture intensifies and the young leave for the exciting cities. They are shabby and a bit sad. I miss experiencing all the glorious remote countryside and it’s wildlife.

I was stopped by the Guardia Civil police today, the ones in green uniforms with white and green vehicles. Two officers checked me out in a helpful and polite way. I think they were concerned for my safety as there wasn’t much of a hard shoulder and I am a wheelchair miles from anywhere. They asked me all the usual questions about range, speed and what I was doing. They waved me off wishing me well and suggesting I get a hi-visibility vest at the earliest opportunity which I will do. They also pointed out the Guardia Civil telephone number and suggested I call if there is any need which was both helpful and reassuring.

I’m now in Rionegro del Puente in a big old municipal albergue. The town has a population of 260. How they fund a municipal albergue is uncertain, guess it keeps them on the map and brings in money. It is only staffed 7-8 in the evening and has a good bar next door. There is probably less than 10 pilgrims here. 

There is a great website by the ‘Oficina de Acogida al Pergreno’ giving current statistics of Compostela’s issued. This year so far, the number from the Vía de la Plata is 1,471 of the 447,000 overall total. Today alone 4195 Compostela were issued. 
 Statistics: https://oficinadelperegrino.com/en/statistics-2/

Zamora to Tábara - (electric wheelchair style)

My albergue in Zamora was fantastic. Siting on a hill and built right into the rock face this historic building is not suited to wheelchairs. Resigned to the idea of needing a hotel the volunteer staff managed to open a side entrance that was accessible for me and gave me an otherwise empty room with my own bathroom. What luxury. Lovely volunteer staff selflessly donate time to facilitate the Camino. It makes me think I would like to do this service if my Spanish was ever up to it. 

Big day for me today. Avoiding otherwise impassable sections I have cut the corner onto the Camino Sanabrés. The usual path leaves Zamora heading north, stopping in both Montamarta and Granja de Moreruela where you chose to either continue north to Astorga picking up the Camino Francés, or take the Camino Sanabrés, a more direct route heading northwest. I managed to string what would normally be three, one day sections together and am in Tàbara on the Camino Sanabrés. 

The terrain has changed since Zamora. I think the altitude is less and the huge monotone Meseta like fields are smaller. The villages I pass are reminiscent of those tiny French villages that are fast becoming deserted.

I stopped for coffee in Montamarta and found a bikers cafe called “Ruta 66” playing terrible 70’s music. The boss gave me a “route 66” sticker for my wheels.

My new batteries are behaving well. My journey today was meant to be 46km but with detours a stops it was probably more. I finished with 3 bars out of 8 remaking on my battery indicator. At a push, with ideal conditions and without the extra weight of a bag, I could maybe get 70 km?

Tàbara is a small unremarkable town whose economy I imagine is mainly agricultural. Huge tractors rumble past on the roads doing what must be 80kmh. It has a small church, a plaza, a leafy park and 2 albergues. Either Im in the wrong one or I’m the only one on Camino today. My lodgings adjoin a hotel which has a popular local restaurant. I shared lunch with municipal workers in brightly coloured safety jackets. 

I plan to link sections together tomorrow. This part of the Vía de la Plata jumps across various hills and valleys approaching Galicia. To save on the hilly bits which eat batteries I am loosely following the route of the high speed railway line that was only finished in 2021. Trains traveling at over 300 km/h fly by as I trundle along at 12 Km/h

El Cubo de Tierra del Vino to Zamora - (electric wheelchair style)

Another day of mainly road based Camino. I chose this option as there was a watercourse that needed crossing. Unfortunately that could have meant anything so I thought it easier to stick to just stick to the road.

The fields are generally fallow this time of the year and the undulating terrain uneventful. Mid afternoon it’s 31'C but it’s cold in the mornings, colder than I was expecting so I wore fleece lined trousers, windproof jacket, wooly hat and gloves. Tomorrow I will add thick socks.

The approach to Zamora descends to the banks of the substantial river Douro, a major river running on to Porto in northern Portugal. 

The old city is reached by crossing the beautiful pedestrianised Romanesque bridge that is known as the new bridge having only been built in the 13th Century. 

The old town is small and charming and I read it is full of churches. What I have seen is lovely.

Time to do the chores and look for a tapas bar for the night. 

Tomorrow I plan a big day of 46km which covers 3 official stages and takes to onto the Camino Sanabrés starting the swing NW to Santiago de Compostela. 

Salamanca to El Cubo de Tierra del Vino - (electric wheelchair style)

This morning I waved goodbye to my sister after a fantastic weekend break eating, drinking and looking at art in Salamanca. I had halted the Camino mid June 2026 and was returning.

Salamanca was my end point for a number of reasons principally because there were small nagging battery issues with my wheels but I was also starting to feel homeless. Salamanca happened to be a great place to get a train to Madrid.

I am opting for the Camino Sanabrés route cutting NW across to Santiago de Compostela just north of the Portuguese border. 

It starts heading north either on or adjacent to small roads. These initial sections are fast for my wheels so leaving at 8:00 I was at El Cubo de Tierra del Vino before midday.

This is a small village in the middle of nowhere. It’s like a crossroad town in America’s mid-west only older without billboards.

Charming but very basic. There is a cafe/ restaurant and apparently a shop but you need to call to get it open. The name “El Cubo de Tierra del Vino” is the land of wine. 

Tomorrow - destination Zamora. 

Salamanca break

Venturing into Salamanca as a pilgrim required a big change of pace. On the Camino everything is simple, what to eat and where to sleep. You operate with acceptance. Taking away choice is somehow freeing. You aren’t in charge of what the world is doing to you, just how you chose to be with it.

For most pilgrims life seems to be about your feet. For me it’s the operational details of my wheels. Checking for loose hardware, tyre pressure unusual noises. Attention is on your planned path - are there steps, how deep are water crossings, stepping stones maybe styles, perilously steep thin inclines.

Distance is much less of a problem than walking as the magic is with lithium. My batteries may take me 60km in ideal conditions, certainly 40km is achievable which is a big ask of most pilgrims, day after day. 

Terrain is more critical though but I usually find a way. The last time I was defeated completely was trying to escape Madrid airport terminal 4 without using public transport or taxis. Google maps says it’s possible but without crossing road edge barriers or a motorway, I couldn’t find a way. Fortunately I was able to use the shuttle bus which was easy and fast. The lesson here was not attempt everything independently and take the bus if you need to. 

I interrupted my Camino in Salamanca taking a break for the summer. The supplementary battery was dying on my wheels, its the power behind the legs coming up and down and the lights There are other system monitoring stuff but for me it was about lowering and retracting legs which are also the brakes. I can manage my wheels without legs but if I’m on a train or airport shuttle, I can’t easily be without legs. Its like trying to stand on a bus in roller skates. I was also starting to feel homeless, waking up not knowing where I was. Just making do had become tiring. Another reason was that Salamanca was well connected, a great place to get a train to Madrid. 

There was also a decision to be made on which route I am to take onto Santiago de Compostela. The Vía de La Plata is the old Roman road running from Seville in the south, north to Astorga which is on the Camino Francés. There is however the option to cut the corner heading directly to Santiago de Compostela on the Camino Sanabrés, a quieter route but possibly more challenging on wheels getting into Galicia. 

Meanwhile stopping in Salamanca is lovely with beautiful buildings, art, history, food and comfort.

Morille to Salamanca - (electric wheelchair style)

Leaving Morville at first light. I checked weather and there was a yellow alert for thunder storms. It’s 20km to Salamanca.

This is the southern edges of the Meseta, a large upland plateau where cereals and other crops are grown. It is a sparsely populated part of Spain and sometimes avoided by pilgrims who don’t like the big open exposed landscaped with little shelter from the sun or rain. The climate is baking hot in summer and can be blanketed in snow in winter. I like the huge skies and patchwork of crops but they will probably all be brown in a week or so.

Down hill and the cathedral is visible long before you reach it. The old town is accessed over a Roman arched bridge.

Salamanca has been a university town since 1280. It’s UNESCO world heritage sight is well deserved. It’s buildings are grand and made with local golden sandstone. Everything matches in colour and grandeur.

There are people everywhere, many nationalities, tour groups move like caterpillars amongst the grandeur. 

I visit the Muses de “Art Mouveau y Déco” with amazing collections of automatons or small clockwork people, mainly ladies with fans to wave. Superb paintings, art deco sculptured ladies in beautiful poses. And an huge collection of Lalique glass. Unfortunately photographs were not allowed except in the café featured below. 

Google says: “Salamanca does not have a single dominant style, but rather an eclectic mix deeply rooted in Moorish and Mudejar architecture, beautifully intertwined with Renaissance and Baroque elements. The city’s unique identity is defined by this layered history” - Well said google.

I visit the cathedral and light a candle.

This is the end of the road for now. I have come about 600km from the sea in Cádiz through Andalucía, Extremadura and into Castile y León. I’m 2/3rd's of the way to the northern Spanish coast but only 1/2 way to Santiago de Compostela.

Except for a few minor things my wheels have stood the test and gone above my expectations with days of over 50km carrying my bag of pilgrim’s essentials.

 

As I write this in my bargain hotel room thunder rolls.

Buen Camino

Fuenterroble de Salvatierra to Morille - (electric wheelchair style)

I finally found other pilgrims at the albergue, meeting a woman from Taiwan and a Welsh man, both in their 60’s. I was to meet with them that evening as well. 

A lovely start to the day. Red sky in the morning resulted in some thunder and rain at about 15:00.

More Roman distance markers aside the route that ran mainly straight for the initial 12km. I avoided an option to climb a high point with views, instead sticking to farm tracks and “C” roads.

No coffee or breakfast stops today. I did not run stages together as I wanted to continue with the other pilgrims now I’ve finally met. 

Finally some art in Morille, today’s destination. Several murals and sculptures around the village. 

It must be hard go these small villages to support local services. This one has a library a gallery and a municipal albergue although its single bar is often closed and the one tiny shop has restricted opening hours.

Tomorrow is destination Salamanca. The guide tells us it is the 1/2 way point between Seville and Santiago de Compostela. I hope to stop for 2 nights in Salamanca as it a big beautiful city. I need to decide to either continue the Camino or take advantage of the direct rail line to Madrid, for an easy return flight.

Aldeanueva del Camino to Fuenterroble de Salvatierra - (electric wheelchair style)

Today’s journey started with a long uphill section through a valley to over 1000m. 

The “B” road was a maze of zigzags. Hoping to cut corners I took a paved section of the old Roman road. Unfortunately it was steep enough to require getting off and push. This lasted for a good 500m with intermittent large steps every 50m. Notice the Roman mile marker on the right. 

Shortly after, the route leaves Extremadura and enters Castilian Y León which I class as Northern Spain. 

Worried about the state of my batteries I take an extended breakfast break in a town called Béjar and plugged in my wheels. This is the first time I have ever broken a journey to charge my wheels and I managed to get 90 minutes for a plate of toast and 2 coffees. 

Onwards and suddenly I was over the hill and had descended into a lush green plateaux. Everything seemed different. It was colder, the grass was green, trees were deciduous and butterflies were flying everywhere. I was actually quite far from the Camino running parallel but delighted with my own path. 

The albergue Parroquail Santa María in the small village of 

Fuenterroble de Salvatierra was a delight.

It could have been a set for Lord of the Rings full of treasures and curiosities.

It’s a donativo albergue, so accepts donations and includes a communal dinner and breakfast. Basic but a memorial stop.

It

David Tipping