We have departed from the traditional Lana route for two days  to take a side route to Siguenza. This is a popular hiking trail, marked very well by associations for 4 different routes.  It  follows the Rio Dulce through green forest, babbling brooks,  dewy grass,  chirping birds, and vultures high in the canyon. What more can I say? Idyllic.

When you emerge from the Canyon the walk continues through wheat fields to the village of Pelegrina with its castle above.  “Everybody” said this is a must-see trip up to the castle. I was reserving judgment.

As I approached the decision point, a voice and apparition emerged from the right. Laurie was descending through high grass and scrub, forging a new path down the mountainside. She had been up to the village to the castle,  taken pictures, had a shoes-off break, dried her shoes and socks in the sun, and probably done 20 minutes of stretching exercises, while I meandered along. She said the trip up to the castle involved a bit of  huffing and puffing, so that clinched it for me. I would simply admire the view from below.

We walked together for a bit, until the inevitable happened – a hill appeared. Bye bye, Laurie!  At the top, I stopped to rest, wipe my brow, and eat some crushed potato chips. I was glad I had not burned myself out with a trip to the castle, too!

My favorite salmon pink hat has been lost. I know roughly where and when I lost it but mounting a search campaign is not in the cards so now I have resorted to using my emergency visor. This is a rather cleverly designed contraption that I got somewhere. It is just a piece of foam cut to shape, with a curly elastic around the back of the head.

The hill to be crossed was dry and rocky, eventually getting me to Siguenza.

By now you will have realized that my blog is not intended to provide a useful or comprehensive account. So I’ll end today’s with a recommendation for Hotel Rural El Arrabal, and the Restaurante Atrio in Sigüenza. Both were excellent!