I make no apology for this unremarkable picture taken at first light beside the road out of Castiblanco de whatsit......as it is a fair representation of what the next 10 miles looked like, or half the day walking on tarmac. The good news was there is little traffic and I am able to get on with my book on my I pod.

The afternoon, gets a lot better as we enter a national park, no traffic, warm and sunny but a rock hard dirt road. I also enjoy one of life's little pleasures & dangle my feet in a roadside pool.... I know how to live in the fast lane.

Just to confirm my age and general level of unfitness the last mile of this 20 mile journey is up the only big hill of the whole trip.

I collapse into the municipal alburge and then join a party of 10 Danish ladies (who seem to be fuelled on chocolate and laughter) for a beer, before joining Diana & John Luke for a meal.

....I also had some good news from home. I had sold one of my paintings at a good price. One of the Danish girls was good enough to share in my excitement.

You might find this hard to believe but selling a picture, you have painted yourself, is one of the best experiences you can have while standing vertically.