Carcaboso to Aldeanueva del Camino - (electric wheelchair style)

Big route today. Up early to visit the Arco de Cáparra.

My day is long and a mixed bag of routes, so I start early an hour before sunrise. 

I have chosen this plan as there is a hazard warning with threats of thunder storms and rain. I need plans ‘B & C’, just in case. 

In the dark I take a tiny winding “C” road for 15km till the sun is up. I encounter 1 car. 

Jumping to the main Camino I do 6km through “Dehesa” woodland on manageable tracks. Dehesa is a habitat of mature holm oak trees. When Dehesa is grazed, there is an artificial line where the cattle are able to stretch to eat.

In places there are stepping stones but the weather has been sufficiently dry for me to pass, avoiding both stones and water. 

The Arco de Cáparra is iconic to the Vía de la Plata. The arch itself is huge and 4 sided. It is adjoined to the south by ruins including a forum, an amphitheater, baths, gates walls and cobblestoned areas. This is currently under archeological investigation and  some sort of interpretation centre is being built. Everything apart from the arch itself was fenced off.  

From the arch onwards I tied a number of alternative routes together to my final destination Aldeanueva del Camino. This village is so pretty. Ancient whitewashed houses line the tiny winding streets. Overhanging balconies give shade below with lots of vines and martins nest everywhere. 

The village has 2 sides, made by this tiny bridge. Everything seems closed.