Day 3 - ORITO TO ELDA - 20 kms

We were supposed to a travel to Petrer today but we were advised that due to the towns festivities there was no accommodation.  We then sorted out a different route to Elda which is in fact quite close to Petrer.  This will enable us tomorrow to continue our trek without having to make a long detour.  We started off at 6:30am as we knew today would be very hot.  We made good time walking through deep gulleys and following the river Vinalopó.  The worst aspect of today, which unfortunately is going to be replicated on many more days, is that there was practically no shade anywhere.  By 11:30 in the morning the temperature had risen to 35 degrees.  Six hours later on the outskirts of Elda we run out of water with the temperature reaching 38 degrees.  We found a cluster of trees and lay down in the shade.  Luckily we found a local who gave us a two litre bottle of ice cold water, which saved the day.  Suitably refreshed we reached our destination seven hours after leaving Orito!  There is no Albergue here so we stayed at a small hotel Federico had suggested.  There we had the cheapest "Menu del dia" we have ever had.   4.5 Euros for Gazpacho, Paella, dessert and a beer!