Day 9 - Puerto Real - Jerez

Today it took us 8 hours to reach Jerez, the next stage of our journey.  Just outside Puerto Real we just could not find the path that was marked in the publication from the Friends of the Camino in Cadiz.  In the end it took us about 20 minutes to find the path which went through about 5 miles of marshes.  

The setting was beautiful but early in the morning the mosquitoes wreaked havoc with me.  Somehow Ana Maria always escapes being bitten but I must have specially sweet blood (or something!) because the mosquitoes just love me.  The rest of the 27 km trek was along a series of paths most of which followed alongside the motorway all the way to Jerez.  Today the worst aspect has been the heat.  We have been walking in around 28 degrees celcius most of the way!


We stopped on the outskirsts of Jerez to have some lunch and then went to 
find the Church of St James to have our "Credencial" stamped.  Unfortunately the church is being totally refurbished and was closed.  This evening we will need to find another one to get our stamp.


Quite close to Jerez the path was flooded.  As I tried to find a way round my left foot sank into the mud up to ankle depth.  By the time we reached our destination the mud had dried and it felt like I was lugging a piece of concrete around my foot!


We were sad to see two lovely ponies which had been tethered by the side of the road.  Although they seemed to be well looked after, they had no shade to get away from the blistering heat.


Towards the end of the day we had to resort to painkillers to dull the  ache of our blisters.  That said, they seem to be getting better (is there such a thing as a good blister?)

Tomorrow we are thinking of taking another rest day.  We shall decide after we've had a glass or two of the local Sherry!


Cheers!