After a recuperation day in Jerez I set off pre-dawn looking for coffee. It’s gonna be hot with weather warnings showing on my phone app and my plan is to do the 36km to Lenrija.
I have chosen this destination as accommodation is less affordable on this Camino. Instead of the usual albergues found on the ‘Francés’, it’s just hotels and hostels. I have been booking in advance through booking.com which has worked for me, but the next affordable accommodation happens to be in Lenrija 36km away. At home I would think nothing of cruising 10 miles a day on my wheels which is 16km so 36km is not a lot more than double that.
I had to settle for vending machine coffee which was ok and the streets were all but empty at 6:30.
Via Augusta is deathly quiet now (late May - June) and I’ve not seen another pilgrim except a young German woman who was returning from a more northern route. A chance but welcome encounter.
There are few direction signs so I’m navigating with GPX routes displayed through OruxMaps which works well for me. I have a dedicated phone mounted on my wheels for the purpose, showing route, time, distance to destination and % of route covered. Love it 😊
Although long, today went well traveling for about 5 hours. The path was generally good on agricultural tracks or small quiet roads. There was one complete section that had been washed out requiring radical maneuvering and a tricky fast road crossing with deep ditches and railings either side. I’m well experienced with such obstacles now and approach it dismounted and backwards on my wheels which seems to work ok.
This little town turns out to be another lovely historic and cultural gem. It is actually classed as a city, and at times of higher sea level, Lebrija was coastal.
It has a very impressive tower known as “la Giraldilla”
(little Giralda) after the Giralda tower at the Cathedral de Seville.
It also seems to hold the most decrepit elderly population in Europe based on the amount of wheelchair users basking in the evening light under the orange trees. Oh and a fantastic sweet shop kiosk in the plaza.
