Distance 21Kilometer, Duration: 6 hours
Weather: Good
After an alfresco breakfast we collected our lunches and set off at 1000. Silvia’s Kneehad recovered enough to enable her to accompany us. Karen decided to visit Sevilla as a tourist so we were 12. David got a camera from the Filmcrew. We crossed the Dragon Bridge and were soon following the Guadairo River .At just before 1pm we met Johanna and graced ourselves for the final few kilometers into Sevilla armed with leaflets and collecting boxes. We were joined by Mari Te of the GALLTO protection society and by Lolina President of the Dog rescue of Sevilla who came with us to the place where we handed over the dogs to be put in the trailer capes to be taken to their eventual overnight location, which turned out to be near the AVE Station, a long wayout. We made our way to the Hostel Picasso to await the baggage. It was very centrally located but getting the lugage to the door required a police escourt. Patrick will report on the dogs overnight stay tomorrow, as we now have two groups: The walkers and the Support-Team including the Filmcrew. We say goodbye to Monika, Joy and Moa and Andrea from Teneriffe. These three completed the entire week with Monica only missing part of the first day. They have been great company and 14 years old Moa was very courageous as she has been suffering with her leg for the past three days.

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I have now nearly completed the first week of walking, it has been a fantastic experience. And I really wish that I would be able to walk the 7 weeks. It has not all be positive. I started out with my husband and daughter but unfortunately my husband had to leave after the first two days. We have had some pain, Moa has been struggling really badly today with pain but I leave that to her to tell her story.
We have lived in a lot of different places some fantastic, like our first night in Gaucin we stayed with this fantastic couple Dick and Denise, they made our first night very nice and we had a fantastic breakfast before leaving again.
It was a bit of frustration in the group the first two days as we had some walkers that could not keep up and some that got injured. On the third day I think we only had walkers that was on the same level and that made it a bit easier.
We have met some nice walkers that we did not know from before, the once of the new once that we will remember the most in Andrea from Tenerife a very positive and nice girl. And Silvia whom unfortunately been injured so we did not get to know her that well from the walks but she has been so nice to us especially to Moa.
Then of course we have all our old walking friends that we will miss and follow on the blog.
Then a bit about the dogs, we have been a bit unlucky with some of the strongest and most prepared dogs that they have been injured, not badly but enough to have to go in the trailer. We have also had to send them some days half days as it has been so hot. We will miss them terrible but Moa will bring her dog Knock out with her home, so one dog that is now adopted.
And I have to give big credit to Johanna for the fantastic planning and to Ditmar for the fantastic food.

Distance 30 Kilometers
Time 7.5 hours.
Weather: sunny and hot
After a surprisingly good night preceded by a great dinner in the Castillo restaurant within the castle walls we had arranged to meet  the representative from the town hall at 0900 to take us to the colegio where we and the dogs were due to meet the children and teachers, and receive a presentation about care and treatment of pets .  At the same time three members of the  DDVIDA dog rescue association from Utrera were going to join us for the  first part of the walk.  The children enjoyed meeting the dogs and then receiving a presentation from Silvia our young Spanish walker who sprained her knee a few days back and is still recovering .  We left the school at 0945 and after leaving the village walked about two hours with our friends before they turned off to Utrera .
By 1230 we had rendezvoused with our support vehicles and picked up our packed lunches and changed over a couple of dogs who had been resting .  Our main concern was for young 14 year old Moa who had bad pains in her right leg but she was determined to continue .  Armed with Mikes walking sticks and detailed instructions she and her mother Joy set off  ahead of us to get a good start .  We made good time along a rather unpleasant track full of flytipped rubbish before turning north to face a long straight track towards Alcala .  Eventually everyone including Moa arrived at the campsite where bungalow chalets were to be our accommodation.  The campsite has become even more rundown since last year and resembles more of a bomb  site with a lot of chalets being demolished and the remains lying around!!
I am writing this in the smoke of a barbecue being prepared by Dietmar with Johanna busy as ever on the other computer alongside me.  I am glad to report all dogs are healthy except Rompe who is convalescing after he got a thorn in his paw.
For the first time Johanna was able to walk with us today

DISTANCE 30 kilometres, TIME 7.5 hours, Weather:  Good
TOTAL TO DATE 160 kilometres
After a bar breakfast in the excellent hotel we collected the dogs and lunch from the compound and set off down the hill on a beautifully sunny day. Haven’t we been lucky with the weather not a sign of rain .  Because of the heat we have been resting some of the dogs . We met a farmer who very kindly said we could go where  liked through his land so we then arrived at flooded part of the track where two streams met . Luckily David found a place to cross so he is hero of the day.  Soon we reached another river where we could cross easily and had a nice shady break. Headed on to a quiet road and were in El Coronil by 215PM  where we rendezvoused with  Johanna and the dog trailer . All dogs were fit and well so we decided not to change any.  We have been very fortunate in that with all the rain this year there is plenty of water in the streams and puddles so the dogs can drink when and where they wish.  The afternoon was uneventful down a long straight undulating track passing just two farms in 13 kilometres.  Lots of suntan lotion was used in the heat with virtually no trees on the way.  Johanna met us at the end of the track and brought us to our unusual sleeping venue in the village Guadaria where one huge childrens play mat had been laid out . The dog camp is just next door and all is well. We are looking forward to the meal in the nearby restaurant for 10 Euros.

We had a good breakfast and were on the road by nine. We passed through Prado del Rey and were soon heading north to Puerto Serrano. We first had to pass through agricultural countryside with some hazards. The first was a stream with a broken fence. The other side with a gate that proved hard to find. We negotiated another stream before joining the main road to Puerto Serrano. Lunch was taken at the railway station at the end of the Via Verde. Along dusty track took us to Montellano. But the bad news was that we had to walk through Montellano to the very pleasant hotel. Johanna hat bullied the Ayuntamiento to giving us a site just by the hotel for the dogs and the support vehicles, which was a bonus. Rompe had to be carried for the last hour of the walk (he had hurt his toe).

Distance 27 Kilometer, height 300 meters, time 7.5 hours,
Weather: sunny and very windy
The previous day had taken its toll on three more walkers. Silvia had a swollen knee and Emel’s knee was also playing up. Stefans old football injury recurred so we were now down to 9 walkers and our guide Patrick. The walk has been nicknamed Patrick s graveyard, but the remainder soon buckled down to a slightly less arduous day with good spirits .  Uno the dog was given a rest day. After an hours walk out of Ubrique we were met with a previously shallow ford across the Rio Maceite. It turned out to be a meter deep and extremely cold. We men were treated to a splendid display of ladies under wear (and vice aversa)! When we all had strip off for the crossing. The dogs did not enjoy it too much but safely swam across. The next stretch was good hike through the Domecq estate and then a crossing of another stream before arriving at the Ubrique El Bosque road for the expected rendezvous with the support vehicle for lunch.  Unfortunately it was waiting 300 meters up the wrong road and some phone calls were necessary to guide the vehicles in!!
The afternoon was a peasant stroll up the  hill to our casa rural and the owner Alberto with Johanna were at the track to guide us through a pig yard to a short cut across the valley to the house . The house has plenty of beds so all were content especially after Dietmar had produced a tasty rice and pork risotto.  Glad to report no casualties today and spirits are high although bodies are tired.
Moro the Dog gets a rest tomorrow as he looked a bit tired this afternoon.

Distance covered 36 kilometers, height climbed 1000 meters,  time 11 hours
Weather sunny
After an early breakfast in hosts houses we assembled in front of the village school to start the longest and toughest day of the whole camino. The weather was fine and we soon were at 750 meters on the side of the Hacho Mountain.  A picturesque descent to Colmenar followed where we collected packed lunches and the vet checked the dogs. Any dog that looks tired has a rest in the car either for the day or for a morning or afternoon. At this point our doctor Andrea and her 4 dogs decided to rest up due to a leg problem. A long steep climb to El Castillo mountain followed and we finally met the support vehicles at 3PM. We then crossed a long winding valley to reach the Mirador above Ubrique at 6PM. Here we joined the GR7 long distance footpath down to Ubrique and our legs were crying out for some rest. Our destination was a the far end of town and it was at 8PM after 11 hours of walking that we were greeted by an enthusiastic group of children.  Johanna our hard working project direct had just come from giving spontaneous presentation.  In the old part of Ubrique with its narrow winding streets and most people had a tapa and went early to bed.

Distance: 31 kilometres, heights climbed 1100 metres, time 7.5 hours

Weather: sunny

Thanks to ADANA we had a great send off party on the Saturday evening where all the walkers and dogs met each other. We stayed in comfortable 4 berth cabins and had the chance to experience all the snores that walkers display. The next day after an excellent breakfast prepared by Dietmar our stalwart support man, we encountered the local press and TV with an appearance on Canal Sur that evening . We set off with 24 walkers including our friends Jorrian and Jesus from Gaucin and Ana, Nuria and Salvador who are joining us later on the camino. We soon reached the highest point of the day and were passing through the Monte Duque Estate thanks to the kindness of the Manager and experience normally denied. Lunch was on the river Genal and two hours later at 5PM we were in Gaucin where kind doglovers and friends of our guide Patrick took the walkers to their homes, to join us later for a splendid meal in Ristorante El Pilar. All dogs were declared fit and well by Andrea our doctor except for Rascal who has been returned to kennels. On the human front we had to say goodbye temporarily to Bettina from Germany who was suffering from complications following a recent knee operation: Her fiancé Volker has also had to drop out to assist Bettina. We hope to see them back before the end of the week.