It pays to be as alert to your body on the last days, as if they were the first. After a funny, delicious communal meal with other pilgrims in our Albergue last night, and a quiet nights sleep in a room for 4, set us up for a late start to walk 22kms to Ribadiso. I started off in sandals but soon changed into my boots, as we were up and down, steep gravel tracks all day. The scenery was very calming as we walked through farms, low green valleys, and very Australian looking eucalyptus plantations. We had a rest after about 10 kilometres and I changed my socks and was a little concerned about the feelings in my feet. There are many more people on the Way now, as Melide is the point where the ... read more

Bedtime was 7.45 last night. I had all the symptoms of a virus brewing and wanted to give myself the best chance to avoid it. I woke in the morning very dry, and feeling a little worse. Ah well, some more drugs and away we go. It was a long, at times steep, climb out of Vilei, but we made good time and settled in at Morgade for a coffee at 9am. 7.8kms. I changed my saturated shirts, and felt much fresher before continuing to Portomarín. I hadn’t realised how wet they become and am convinced that this is a major factor in my current state of health. I met up with a Korean girl I hadn’t seen since walking into Burgos, and had a chat about her journey, and the inevitable problems that arise on ... read more

Today has had a surprise ending. I’m in Samos, comfortably held up in a hostel, after walking 31.8 kms. This begun last night. I was having dinner with a couple of friends who said they were going to Samos instead of stopping at the traditional stage end, Triacastela. I considered it, put it into the maybe box, and then went back to the Albergue. That’s when decisions were made. On and off for weeks, I’ve encountered a NZ woman. She seems a little unusual and is either up, or has a problem of some sort. She often asks me where I’m staying, and then appears there the next day. There’s nothing untoward here; she’s just asking someone who has done it before. Last night, my dinner companions wanted to leave a window open to let in ... read more

I ate pizza with Greg last night. He is straight forward and doesn’t want to mix with women on the Camino. They complicate his life. He values his independence. He never married, no children. Happy days. I’m sharing a room with Greg, 2 Germans, and 2 Koreans. Guess who I was drawn to; Greg. For starters, he’s the only one I can talk to, and he has led an interesting life, changed direction work wise, many times, and is interested in similar things as I am. Except Hawthorn Football Club; he doesn’t follow footy. We went to the local pizza place, had vegetarian, chock full of asparagus, artichokes, and the usual fillings you expect, and chatted for hours about the Camino, our lives, families, in a way that indicates that in a day or so, we’ll ... read more

Where do you find a dentist in Astorga at 3am in the morning? I woke at 2.30 am this morning to loud pounding footsteps on a squeaky floor, and the slamming of our room door, compliments of an inconsiderate Australian returning from the bathroom. I listened to him, just before falling asleep, complaining that the food offered in Spain wasn’t the same as Australia; really! He needed his oats and toast for strength before heading out for the day, and he didn’t think it was too much to ask. What a national embarrassment. I never talk when Australians are around until I suss them out. You never know what you’re getting, and nationality’s seem to be drawn to each other. If I wanted to hang out with aussies, I’d have gone to Bondi. Anyway, when I ... read more