It means great wine producing area. Last night we joined Alistair at his modern albergue for drinks and dinner.Our’s was ancient. We dined with lots of familiar faces. One newbie I spoke with, Tom, a dutchie, had fun rambling on with this old bloke in dutch. At seventy one, he is one tough son of a bitch. He started his camino in France, before Bordeaux. In twenty days, he has walked six hundred kilometres,carrying his pack. That’s averaging thirty kilometres a day, unless he’s a bullshit artist like myself. Like every other night, I zonk out as soon as my head hits the pillow. This morning, this now familiar international threesome of Alistair Jeff and I left the small village of Sansol under another incredible blue sky. After a flat bit of around five hundred metres, our first sharp downhill was upon us. It was then, that Jeff realised he had left his hiking poles at the mini mart that happened to be open on a Sunday morning. Alistair and I waited while Jeff trudged back to retrieve them. We then walked another km and blow and behold, a cafe open for business. A guacamole and Turkey toasted sandwich with hot chocolate really hit the spot. As we took off, Alistair put his hand in his pocket and found his room key, so it was now his turn to go back.I was a bit concerned, as usually things happen in three. Jeff and I continued through mainly gores and bushland and also vineyards as far as you could see. A very winding track, which crossed a very winding road several times throughout the day. I could have done with a hedge trimmer. As there has been no rain, the natural paths, which are all clay based, are baked solid and are harder to navigate than concrete paths as they’re very uneven and rocks sticking up and worse when climbing up or going down steep hills. The time spent on the bitumen today was probably the best option. When it’s like this the feet really suffer. After twenty one kilometres, I was happy to call it a day. We had stopped a few times and one longer stop, I removed my socks and shoes, which does really help the feet to rejuvenate. As you catch up to other pilgrims, you can tell what nationally they are from looking at the back of their legs. Because you have had some conversation with them, and they also have stops, you pass each other many times. So to forget about how hot you or your feet are, I think, as I am about to pass this pilgrim,ha ha,those legs are Korean,and then the next ones are Mexican, and the next one are english. I was scoring myself at ninty percent. Also I have noticed as we walk our ninth day,the amount of injured pilgrims. Many, including me wearing knee braces, and a number limping, probably from blisters. This time next week, I believe the buzzards will be circling. Heard cuckoo birds today, or someone’s clock is stuffed, as they were calling well beyond twelve ,even at twelve.