Last day of serious walking

Left O Pedrouzo at 8am in the dark. First  coffee break at 9am and the heaven's opened for the next three and a half hours.  Seemed like we were walking in a queue,  there were so many pilgrims.  Saw our first and only donkey on the Camino.  Got to albergue Mont del Gozo and the rain stopped.  We were relieved to find our luggage there, which we had sent from Pamplona on 4th September.  Dry clothes and bused downtown. Visited cathedral,  lot of scaffolding inside and outside,  pity, but that's the draw.  We saw lots of pilgrims we had met at various stages on the walk. We had a cup of hot chocolate with Teri and Will from San Francisco, a very nice couple. Collected our saint Francis compostela,  800 year anniversary.  Caught bus back to Mont del Gozo,  bowl of Galatia soup before going to bed. All the young pilgrims were celebrating till well after midnight.

O Pedrpuzo

Walked in the rain for a few hours arriving at this town. Stopped at café for our first hamburger on the Camino.  Actually,  it was delicious.  We got very cold and decided to call it a day.  Just around the corner was an albergue so we checked in, private room €30. A nice hot chocolate, hot shower and a rest. The rain got harder as the afternoon wore on, so a good decision was made. Sitting in pizza parlour having a beer; quite a lot of other pilgrims with the same idea.
Rain predicted for tomorrow but only 20kms to Santiago. We are both feeling good, very seren and happy.

Sunday 5th October 2014

We left the albergue right on 8am.  3km walk uphill to Arzua,  coffee on the way out of town.  Pleasant and easy walking through ancient oak woods and several small streams. At Calzada we were sitting having a coffee and a herd of dairy cows strolled by. We reached our albergue but it was still being cleaned. So off to a cafe for lunch. Took the opportunity and did another load of washing.  Had a relaxing afternoon chatting to Nancy (USA) and then the three of us enjoyed a delicious dinner together; a sort of BBQ lamb with salad and chips.

Day 34 - 11kms

Left Melide at 8.30am after preparing and eating our own breakfast.  Five and a half kms to our first coffee at a Germany cafè.  It was overcast and threatening to rain.  Walked through shaded forest, surprisingly eucalyptus.  Arrived at Ribadiso albergue early and had to wait until 1pm until it opened.  We deliberately decided to stay here; one of the oldest pilgrim albergue still in existence.  We got a nice bunk in the corner with plenty of room for our packs,  and also near the heater. Met Kent from South Africa who had just finished his two weeks volunteering in the Maseta in an albergue.  We later shared a taxi to Arzua to have a meal at a restaurant which was recommended.  We had roast beef and potatoes.  Kent told us some interesting stories over dinner of his times volunteering over the past three years. He suggested that we would make good volunteers. ........mmmmmm! !!!!!! Taxi  home,  €5.

Day 33, 20kms

On the road at 8.15am,  the mist burned off by 9.30am and it started to warm up.  Walking surface was very good with a lot of shade. Passed through Palas De Rei.  Stopped for coffee at Casa Domingo,  the bar with the big shell,  approximately 11.30am. Got to our destination at midday, but it was nearly 2kms down a side road so we decided to cancel and push on. Arrived at Melide and booked in at a nice new albergue.  Showered and did all our washing,  all dried in the warm afternoon sun.  Supermarket for dinner requirements including a few beers. There are 7 bunks in this room and 2 scorers!  We have left the Glacia area which we loved and are now in the Coruña area. Approximately 53kms to Santiago.  Our body's feel strong,  and our feet are in better condition than pilgrims half our age. Tonight for dessert we had rice pudding with peaches,  yum.

Visit to Vilar De Donas

After a coffee got on the road by 8.30am.  Walked in the mist,  it was quite eerie.  There were quite a lot of pilgrims also walking. More cows in doors for the winter,  Ian said hello to all of them!  Toast and coffee at Ventas De Naron.  A bus load of day walkers arrived, used the Camino stamp, as well as the toilets and left the premises.  These people would have started walking at Sarria,  and pilgrims who have  started in St Jean are asked to be tolerant of them; it is very hard.  Got to our albergue at noon.  Did 4.6kms to Vilar De Donas.  Origins go back to the 10th century, there were a lot of celtic crosses, it was very interesting.  It was the ancient seat of the knights of Santiago. Rested then off down the road to Internet and do blog.  Bumped into Barbara and Jeppe from Denmark who we hadn't seen since Ventosa, it was lovely to catch up.

Loma's visit to Medical Center

Meal at the albergue last night was a lot of fun,  good food, good company and plenty of vino.  Ten people sitting at a table all very happy.  Left this morning after coffee and muffin,  it was misty but the country was beautiful.  The walk was steadily downhill.  We passed two herds of cows on the Camino,  just been milked.  Crossed the long and high bridge into Portomarin. As Loma's eye still not healing, had an appointment with a doctor who gave her a thorough examination.  She prescribed 3 different drops and ointment.  Ian administed in the town park.  We decided to carry on, took us 2 hours to walk the 8kms to our albergue in Gonzar.  Ian had a gin and tonic, currently doing blog whilst waiting for 6.30pm dinner.  We are both hungry which is a good sign.