One More Step

Today many pilgrims were excited, and heading to Santiago de Compostela in one stage - just over 24 kms.  However, we decided we would break this day up and stop at O Milladoiro, about 8 kilometres before Santiago.  Leaving Padrón  Iglesia de Santa Maria de Iria Flavia Leaving Padrón this morning was interesting. We had a stream of pilgrims behind, and no doubt in front, as anticipation got pilgrims up and on the road before sunrise (at 9.02am) in an attempt to get to Santiago for the midday pilgrim mass.  We, in contrast, had a leisurely day, as we ambled along beautiful forest paths, through ancient villages, and finding time to stop for refreshments along the way.  There was even time for a sing in the only open Church along the way. Some of the hordes leaving Padron! Open, but I couldn't get far enough away to take a photo from the front! Today we were to pass through the village that Michael, the developer of the ...

It seems incredible, but less than a month ago I did a post titled "It's Hot".  How things have changed.   Since leaving Pontevedra, indeed at times before that, we have had rain falling in torrents.  This morning we left after the sun, if it could be seen, had risen, but for over an hour we walked in almost pre dawn gloom.   Leaving Pontevedra We set off in rain, forecast to get heavy, which it did, and continued sloshing our way onwards.  Within about 30 minutes my feet were sodden, which in turn gave me the freedom to stop trying to find the driest route, and instead charge straight through the puddles and watercourses flooding the path.  After the initial shock of cold water it became fun, and I was reminded of childhood games playing in puddles and such like. Casa Misericordia   Our ultimate destination on leaving Pontevedra was Caldas de Reis.  It wasn't a difficult day - just a heavy slog in th...

We are now in the lovely city of Pontevedra.   This was the place where had planned a rest day, which we have been enjoying, before heading on to the Camino Espiritual.  Plans have changed though, as the constant wet weather has made that option very unappealing, and likely to be somewhat difficult, with muddy conditions along the way, and maybe even flooded areas. Instead our plans are to head up along the Central Route, the way we have been following since leaving Porto. Iglesia de la Virgen del Camino  (I managed to have a sing here in the afternoon).  We went to the pilgrim mass here. How have the last few days been you may be wondering?  As I write, I realise that I haven't posted for a number of days, so it is now time to fill you in. To avoid the arduous slippery climb on leaving Ponte de Lima we caught a bus, then a taxi, to Tui.  This is a wonderful old town, built on a hill, with the ancient Tui Cathedral dominating the sky line. ...

After the storms on our day in Barcelos we were meant to have a follow up day (really a week!) of more rain.  However, we were very fortunate that, apart from a few short showers it was fine for our entire day of walking,  and allowed us to stop for a leisurely lunch in an old mill.   It was an interesting day, meeting, really for the first time, the trail of pilgrims heading for Santiago de Compostela, negotiating roadworks, and stopping regularly (for me) to take photos.  We arrived early at our lodgings, well before check-in time, and so we went a few hundred metres down the road to a restaurant which had once been an old mill, the river roaring past, and under, the building, and much of the old machinery incorporated into the decoration. Walls and cobbles continue  When I was here in January I was unable to cross this bridge because the river had flooded several hundred metres before I reached and I had to detour out to the road....