Day 25 - A practice for tomorrows Meseta challenge

We had planned a shorter walk today after a longer one yesterday and in preparation for our final Meseta test tomorrow . Approx 26km , no villages, no water and no shade during what they are calling an African" heat wave ... forecast 36 deg c .We are on an alternative path that not all pilgrims take due to the lack of facilities but it is what the Meseta is all about, away from the highway, immersed and often struggling in the landscape & conditions ...so we stock up on water & food and with my trekking umbrella (have I told you how much I love it ☺) and leave @ 6 am we should be fine.
Today we slept in till 7:15am (that's late for the Camino) and had a typically relaxed Spanish breakfast , a pastry and a couple of beautiful cafe con leches coffees at this lovely spot (see pic) we visited the day before. As is usual on the Camino we reconnected with an American lady who had stayed at an earlier town as she walked we enticed her to stop For a coffee & pastry.
We finally got underway and left Sahagun via the beautiful puente Romano and were soon alone on the Camino which is unusual as it can be like rush hour sometimes. At our first stop there were no no shops open (small town and being Sunday ) so we found a lovely shady spot under a willow tree and surrounded by rose bushes in the town centre ,we did though enjoy the company of the town's mangy stray dog (see pic) who at least had sense not to eat the peanut Anita gave him ☺.
The remainder d the walk to Calzadilla de los Hermanillos ( the names all sound the same row) was a mixture of wide open farming land and shrub / tree landscape . all had a sprinkling of beautiful wild flowers and if you stopped and listened the area was alive with all sorts d life ... we particular are inspired by the Camino butterfly's that seem to flutter across your line I sight just when you need cheering up.
At some points I could have been transported back to parts of my childhood with my pop -- building fences on properties near Wellington (Nsw) .
As the temp grew hotter we made it to a rise and there was our destination for the night , it was about 1:30 pm and we dragged ourselves through the empty hot streets to find a bed for the night.
So with all the chores done we .. are enjoying a well earn't beer and about to head out looking for supplies for tomorrows challenge ... then a Peregrino's 3 course dinner @ 7.30pm and then straight to bed ready for an early start and another amazing day on the Camino.
Ps: have now gone onto the back page of my Cadenza (pilgrim passport)..lucky i have 2 as we are taking longer than normal. It is proof of your journey so you can receive your Compostela...your certificate of completion...and get stamped daily at your accommodation.
Ps:  Question for the day.....who is the person shadowing me on the Camino? (see pic)..he is particularly visible early morning and late evening.