inukshuk

Oct 11 Yes ,we made it! We left around 8:30,just getting light;Started with a light rain,and then it came down in earnest.We did not run but definitely our best time,10:30We stopped just short of the cathedral to get a coffee and warm up a bit.No trouble getting a seat and recognised some people from the walk.One of them ended up on the alter, serving mass.The mass was attended by about 14 priests,some had done the walk.The pictures tell a better story than I can,so I will just say it was amazing. Just stayed another day and then tried to find a dryer spot.... read more

Oct 6 Sarria to Portomarin 22 kms.Left really late today 9:30 with about 50 school kids.So much for a peacefull day.Took a while for them to get ahead of us.We passed 2 women cleaning pulpo on a scrubbing board,They cook them in big copper pots. Today more wooded paths,and farmland.People harvesting apples and grapes.Arrived 3:30,tired and sore.A shower does wonders for that though.Walked around after a good rest,people were going to mass,now at 6pm,the music in the plaza was beautiful.We passed some guys unloading grapes and one of them had rubber boots on and yes he was stomping them.They also gave us grapes.So much going on behind these doors,you would think nobody lived here sometimes.Supper for me was pulpo and local cheese. Oct 7 To Lestedo 20kms Pretty good most of the way,a little steep at ... read more

Oct 3 O'Cebreiro,only 10kms but it is straight up.Very foggy and danp,but this is Galicia and this is normal they tell me.This track is brutel,narrow and a lot of rocks.Tough on our feet,trying to avoid what the cows left behind.Heavy fog and rain part of the way and the rest was some guy spreading liquid manure.Aiden got a great laugh at me trying to out run the tractor, gagging the whole time.Wet and cold when we arrived,but the shower was hot and they had turned the heat on.We had to do laundry at the albergue,too wet to hang anything out.This place is pretty high up and from the pictures they get wicked snowstorms.The local priest here was responsible for kickstarting the camino,apparently his idea to use the yellow arrows for the waymarks.There was a miracle credited ... read more

Sept 26 Awoke 6am to loud banging on our door.This lady is yelling in Spanish and the only thing I understood was the name of the last place we stayed in.Apparently Aiden still had the key and they wanted it back,not sure why at 6 am though.So we were up and it was cold and damp.Met Dan and Mercedes,she wasn't feeling well,lot of people getting colds.We decided to take the bus to Leon,good idea as it turned out,the weather was miserable. Leon was uneventful,big city.Saw 1 church,then beer and pizza. Sept 28 Left late again,packs still heavy and I did dump some stuff,only to find Aiden had been getting rid of stuff for awhile.Smart guy.Cloudy and cool but no wind.We walked 15kms but it was slow going.The town was called Hopital de Orbigo in a place ... read more

Hornillos 21kms We left at 7.00,had our cafe con leche and tostado and walked 11kms beforem we stopped for more cafe.Aiden could'nt believe how far we had come.We made such good time that first part,we stopped twice more and slowed down.It was sunny,with a little wind,more fields,flat,Meseta country.We saw a shepard with his sheep,and then 2 guys with a donkey loaded down.They were stopped drinking beers when we passed.This was a very quiet town in a peaceful way.We had lunch with 2 Aussies,Judy and Hugh and supper with Olan and Suze from Norway.They had a lot of questions about Canada. Sept 23-Castrojeriz 20kms our time today was good,left 7:15 to 12pm.We stopped in Hontanas for cafe and pastries (seems like we are always eating?)Small town,but seems busy.After that more Meseta,some cloud cover and wind.The last few ... read more