Beunte to Pedrouzo, Spain (10/10)

Date: Friday, October 10, 2014

Distance Walked: 31.5km

Distance to Santiago: 19km

Albergue: O Burgo

Today we slept until after 7:00. We are sleeping later and still going to bed early. We had a great breakfast. Very American. I had a toasted sandwich on regular bread with egg and cheese. Lee had the hugest crossiant I have ever seen. 

Then it was time to day good bye to our 8 Amigos team. We met Carrie and Jay at our first pilgrims meal in Orrison. We have pretty much been walking the same pace since then. Then along the way they added Sondra, Thurston, Bev and Dave. 

But today Lee and I decided we want to be in Santiago on Saturday, so we are on our own. We will meet up with them for mass on Sunday at 12:00 when we receive our official Compostela and become official pilgrims. 

It was a great walk with beautiful and sunny weather. The temps are a lot cooler now that it is Fall in Spain. We decided to stop and have a snack at this great restaurant. We stepped inside, set down and the bottom fell out. Hard rain. Oh no. By the time we finished the rain had stopped. Yea! No ponchos!!!

We reach our albergue. We have a private room with our very own bathroom. We are tired, so we take a nap and wake up around 7:00. Much needed! 

Now for planning while in Santiago, Finisterre and then on to Paris. We decided to break for dinner and then return to our room. 

So excited we will be in Santiago tomorrow. We have talked a lot about this with other pilgrims while on the Camino. For me, it is like following all of the yellow arrows to Oz to see the Wizard. I really can't imagine what it will feel like when we enter Santiago. I know the pilgrims service and the cathedral will be so beautiful. Then and not until then we will be official pilgrims! Can not believe we did it... 500 miles!!! 

Tomorrow Santiago! Buen Camino!

Bev waking up behind her towel/curtain in our albergue. 

Countdown this morning. 

More beauty. 

The hydrangeas are so beautiful and huge on the trail. 

A little creek we had to cross. 

A palm tree?

Motion activated billboard advertising this albergue. So funny. Must be a real techie?

Camping pilgrims. 

Memorial to a woman that passed away at 52. She did not pass away on the Camino, but had completed the Camino twice. The Camino is known as the longest cemetery that honors pilgrims that have passed away while walking. 

We never get lost. 

Another Camino cross. 

Just me clowning around! 

Palas de Rei to Boente, Spain (10/9)

Date: Thursday, October 9, 2014

Distance Walked: 20km

Km to Santiago: 44

Santiago Arrival: Sunday, October 12, 2014

We were wet to the bones and our fingers looked like prunes from a day walking in the rain yesterday. Was very nice to wake up to clean, dry clothes. It does not take much to make a pilgrim happy. 

Had a hot meal this morning. Things are looking up! Then we hit the trail. 

Started out at 57 degrees and no rain. Yippppperee! We were happy pilgrims. Then out of nowhere it started sprinkling. Time to get out the ponchos. Then it got harder and harder. Thank goodness we were close to our lunch stop. 

It was a great restaurant and it was dry and warm. We had more kale soup, delicious bread, green peppers and a cheese tray. Walking in the rain makes me so hungry. While we there it started raining harder and harder. We had reservations at the next albergue so we could not sit out the rain. So we suited up for the rain and started out. We got about two blocks and the rain stopped and the sun came out. Crazy, but we were happy. 

Then the rain started again and hard. Back to the ponchos. That is the way it is in the Galacia region. Stopped before we reached our village but I kept my poncho on. 

We were lucky again. We got a room for right right next to the showers and the washer and dryer. 

Then we start our happy hour. Have dinner at our albergue restaurant. We had a real American hamburger with a real bun and fries. Yummy! 

We will be in Santiago on Saturday night!

This is the Camino look. Legs are dark and feet are white. My shoes were wet so I had to walk in sandals. Terrain was wet and muddy from rain yesterday. Was trying not to get "dirty girl" feet. 

Beautiful walk through the forest before the rain. 

 Beautiful cathedral and cemetery on path. 

This is Sondra's 2000km marker and her 109th day of walking since June 23rd. Amazing. 

Having a brandy shot to celebrate her great feat! Helped to warm up the bod for our walk. 

We keep crossing paths with our German buddies. 

Wow what a beautiful camino shell. 

Our friend Thurston looking for the hidden treasure. The GPS said it should be in this spot, but unfortunately it was nowhere in the area. 

My feet are still clean after lunch on the Spanish Walk of the Stars. 

A cemetery that has window decorations. 

Ooohhhhhh!

Yep! A lemon tree!

Our Albergue Boente. Too bad the pool was closed. 

Our albergue looks like a college dorm room. 

Celebrating our daily accomplishments. Buen Camino!

Portomarin to Palas de Rei, Spanish (10/8)

Date: Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Today our "Pilgrim In Training" skills were put to the test. It was a very cold, windy and rainy day. We walked almost 8 hours in the rain. Not just sprinkling, but a hard steady rain. By the time we reached our albergue, we were soaked. We have ponchos, but the wind was whisking them around. Our shoes and socks were wet and squishy. I don't think they will be dry do we can wear tomorrow. May wear my Tevas. 

Everything had to be washed and dried, but everyone else needed washers and dryers too. Our albergue had only two washers and one dryer. Yikes! We washed our clothes and lined them up for drying. It was definitely "take a number!"

Went to a nice restaurant and had a great pilgrims meal. Lee and I had vegetable soup and he had beef and I had salamon. Yum. For dessert we had Santiago cake. That is a cake that is served throughout Spain. It is almond flavored and so moist. 

Then we returned to our albergue. Lee was in the top bunk and he found two he'd bugs. This is not good. They are blood sucking bugs. Soundra our team mate had bed bugs last night and was bitten on gets legs, arms and neck. It is itchy and painful! 

Lee sprayed his top bunk and I sprayed my lower bunk. We have been sleeping in our sleeping bags throughout our trip because we treated them before we left St. Louis. 

Well now it is 11:30 and Shondra and I are in the laundry room having wine and chocolate while our last load dries. Also, got to FaceTime my son Jason. Ahhhhhh!

Till tomorrow... Only 4 days to Santiago. Buen Camino!

Ready for a rainy day on the Camino!

More pilgrim art ?

Camino Km. marker. 

Hungry pilgrims getting out if the rain. 

So many beautiful crosses on the Camino trail. 

Jay and Carrrie hand washed their clothes and hung them on their bunks. This is part of daily normal routine for pilgrims. Also, we had a little wine and chocolate party in our room. Most of the time we have a big room to our selves. 

One albergue rule: no shoes in albergue rooms. This us our shoe rack. The newspaper is to help dry shoes. 

Barbadadelo to Portomarin, Spain (10/7)

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Distance Walked: 18km

Miles to Santiago: 54

Had a wonderful breakfast buffett today. That was a first... Choices. Yum! Then back on the road again!

Beautiful walk. Actually the path was enchanting. A little rain, but not enough to stop us pilgrims. So we tarry on. 

The next bar we stopped for lunch. They had homemade vegetable lentil soup, homemade rheas and drink 5€.  Delicious!

Then back in the road. Then we reached our destination. Today we elected to stay in a hotel... With a shared bathroom. That's OK!

Then stand in line for the washer and dryer. Then the regular routine. 

Funny experience. We decided on pizza for dinner. Found a great Italian restaurant and the pizza was amazing. Was telling the team about the wonderful green peppers I sampled earlier. Everyone wanted to try. I volunteered to go back to restaurant and get a take away order. 

Chef said he had no container. Would not lend me a plate. Told  me where I could buy a container. I think he was worried about me getting lost so he took me shopping. We found container for 1€. 

He cooked the peppers, put in container and they were delicious with our pizza. 

Then back to hotel for a good nights sleep.  Buen Camino!

Getting closer!

Can you believe an ostrich. Could not get a better pic. 

Cows just walking through village. We thought we could get a pic with someone in front so it appeared we were running with the bulls. 

Then some sheep walking through village. 

Enjoying our yummy lentil soup and bread!

Beautiful? Yes!!!

Centuries old bridge in Portomarin. 

Steps leading to bridge. 

Just a pretty fence!

Tricastela to Barbadela, Spain (10/6)

Town: Tricastela to Barbadela, Spain

Monday, October 6, 2014

Albergue: Casa de Carmen

Distance: 15 miles

Miles to Santiago: 65 (but who is counting?)

Started our day with our usual pilgrims breakfast, Coffee Americano, toast, jam, juice and we were off. Beautiful day for walking. It was a cool brisk day and 59 degrees. But there was rain in the forecast. 

Yes we had to wear our ponchos a couple of times, but it was not a hard rain. We are expecting heavier rain this week. This was a good dress rehearsal to make sure we were prepared pilgrims. Guess what... We were!

Good news! Today we went through a big town. We found a camera shop and they had a charger for Lee's GoPro camera. 

The man spoke no English, we speak no Spanish. Showed him Lee's camera and we played a little charades. He said, "Ah Ha!" Then he pulled out a plastic bag from under counter that had many chargers. Not only did he have one that worked, he had two. Lee bought both just in case. They were a great buy, two for only 5€.

Then we had a great lunch and waited for our friends. While we were waiting, the couple from Houston came by. We chatted and properly introduced ourselves again. Remember he is the man that is pushing his wife in the wheelchair. He has been pushing her since the middle of August. We will probably arrive in Santiago on the same day. Amazing. Very nice couple!

Then we met up with our walking friends and headed for our albergue. When we arrived June and Dave were there too!

Then the usual... Pilgrims dinner, brush our teeth and then to bed!

Enjoy the pics!

Camino friends from Houston. 

Gotta love the cows!

Just like yesterday. 

Looks really good to be 800 years old. 

Nice pilgrims bench. 

8 amigos!

Taking a break at this besutiful bar with homemade goodies. Yum!