We have a shorter day today, so no pressing need for an early start. That said, we have kept our options open by going for a picnic breakfast rather than waiting until 9am for breakfast in the bar. The deciding factor was the only extra item on the later breakfast was toast
So waking up just before 7am meant an early start.
The only capsules available for the coffee machine included milk, not ideal. I also assumed that the machine would dispense a measured amount of water rather than continuing forever. The result: an overflowing cup of not very nice coffee, but marginally better than nothing
The same could be said of the breakfast sandwich, or half a sandwich, which consisted of a thin slice of ham, a thin slice of cheese, between two pieces of budget white sliced bread. For balance, I should report that the apple was very tasty
And so we say goodbye to our little taverna beside a rather busy road and set off just after 8.30 for the half mile stroll back to downtown Pontedeume.
It's a cloudy and damp start to the day, a few specks of very lighthearted rain, but still shorts and t-shirt weather. The cloud is hanging low over the nearby hills, and that's the way we are going
Back on route, we climb through the ancient streets, it is a steady uphill start today .
There are other pelegrinos on the move, including one group stood in a small piazza overlooking the town singing devotional songs before commencing their journey. It's very atmospheric.
We are soon out of town and into wooded countryside, with a smattering of fields and smallholdings.
Today's architectural challenge is to try and determine what use these buildings were put to. We have seen a lot of them, always near houses but never attached to the house. The best theory we have is that they were used as store houses, perhaps for grain, out of reach of passing mice
Vines growing across the path providing shade. I pick a few low hanging fruit, they are very sweet.The low cloud is maintaining an ideal walking temperature and steady progress is made.sometimes we are walking in the company of others, sometimes alone, it is very unpredictable
Two hours after Pontedeume we encounter this rather charming and very well organised rest stop. It is full of fellow walkers, taking break and refreshments. We meet a mother who is walking the route with her two year old son. They are aiming to do 5 miles a day
Time to sit down for tea, coffee, and cake, and to pick up another Sello for our growing collection
This rather modern looking barn has suffered something of a collapse
I notice there is what looks to be an owl on the roof. If only I had listened to Vera and packed a pair of binoculars
Today's graffiti prize goes to this very stern looking Spanish woman
Walking through the town of A Carreira, where we stop for lunch in a small cafe. Very simple open sandwich and soft drink
We are now back on our estuary and beside the railway that took us from A Caruna two days ago
Every other house seems to have at least one cat, usually black and white. This one is very friendly
Eventually the sun burns through the clouds and the temperature begins to climb.
Cooling wayside spring
The last few miles are on tarmac, along very quiet roads. Eventually Betanzos and the end of our day comes into view
This is another ancient town, and we walk the short distance to our hotel
and a very grand building it looks too
After a shower and change of clothes it's time to resume what feels like a holy quest to obtain a local SIM card for my phone
Galaxia Phone are able to sort everything out. For €10 I am back in contact with the world. Technology, isn't it amazing? Simply swap cards and you have a working phone with a new local number for minimal cost. Simples
We head out for a celebratory beer and something to eat. The celebratory beer is easily achieved, food is trickier. This is Spain, it is only 8pm and nowhere is open yet. We manage to find a simple cafe serving simple food. Very authentic local bar. Jamon, egg and chips and a tuna salad washed down with either the house red or coke zero.
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