Camino de Santiago 5/2023 Archives ~ Page 7 of 9 ~ Roaming Rocks

Day 30: Villafranca to Vega de Valcarce

By admin

On June 1, 2023

In Camino de Santiago 5/2023

Miles: 12.58/ Steps: 27,553

Todays selfie!

Happy Birthday and farewell to Nikki! I decided to split the next stage into 2 parts so Nikki left early in the morning to do a lot of walking and I went back to bed to sleep some more! I am starting to feel the beginning signs of getting sick and am trying to do what I can to prevent it!

Today was supposed to be pretty flat and along the river so I was confused when I came across these arrows with a super steep hill. I soon realized that there were 2 routes and these arrows were pointing to the more difficult one. Today I turned around and took the one that was easier.

There are so many Pilgrim statues along the way. All of them are so very different.

We walked thru so many small villages. Some were thriving and some were really empty and deserted. This was such a cute block of houses. The cats even realized it was a great place to live!

Not sure why this was hanging from the ceiling but it felt picture worthy.

Todays dog picture. He was guarding its house and barking at everything that walked by.

So many cute villages along the path today.

I walked next to the river most of the day. It was a gorgeous walk!

This deer and I walked together for about 5 minutes until it decided to cross the street.

Nikki, Ferenc and I started the same day. We all walked together until I needed my rest day in Estella and Nikki and Ferenc walked together another week before he needed to start walking longer distances so he could finish by June 1st. We kept in touch the entire time and he got to Santiago on May 29th. In order to say goodbye to each other, he rented a car, picked me and Nikki up and we all went to lunch in O’Cebrero. It was great to get the group together again!

I think this would be the “Women’s Bathroom”.

I think this is meant to be the men’s bathroom.

It was so fun to get the group together again and so appreciative of Ferenc for renting the car and coming to get us! The drive back to my hostel stressed me out a bit because I could see the steep inclines I needed to walk the next day.

I stayed at the Pension Fernandez in Vega de Valcarce. My private room was cute and such a deal for only $20! The only problem is that there was only one plug and it was high up on the wall opposite from the bed…I had packed a 6 foot charging cable and it really was one of the best things I brought.

I got the best sleep last night though which is really all that matters.

Day 31: Vega de Valcarce to O’Cebreiro

By admin

On June 1, 2023

In Camino de Santiago 5/2023

Miles: 10.08/Steps: 22,061

Todays Selfie

Today I started out walking along the river. About halfway thru the hike, it became very steep and we climbed to the very top of the valley. It was one of the steepest climbs to date but worth it for the views. It was mainly a dirt path and we hit some crazy mud as well because it had been raining. About halfway up the hill a dog came up behind me from out of nowhere and walked with me for about 10 minutes. There was no owner anywhere and we weren’t sure where he came from.
I met up wtith some cows and also met up with Joe from Seattle. We walked together a bit and kept catching up to each other. He got bed bug bites so we stuck together to get him some medicine and make sure he was ok. (He was)

There were some storks hanging out on the hill.

This turn right here was where it started the steep incline.

A lot of people take horses up the hill because it is so steep.

Well hello perro from nowhere!! Show me the way!!

This coffee shop oozed with love. Love for the neighbor’s daughter who adored the owner, love for the pilgrims who were tired from the steep climb, love for good music, love for life!

Made it to Galicia for the first time in 20 years. This would be the equivalent of returning to California after being out of the country for 20 years. It feels good to be home!

This is my favorite couple on the Camino. Dadi and her boyfriend Misghana remind me of Howard and myself when we traveled around Australia. There is something special about travel during the initial stages of a relationship. I feel like you just know if it will work or not pretty quickly and as an outsider, their relationship appears to operate like a well oiled machine! I hope he earns the title of the official souvenir of this trip! Secondly, Dadi was the first one on the scene when I fell on the way to Molinseca and she was so kind and caring. Thirdly they are just a lot of fun!

I made it to O’Cebreiro, had a nice lunch, walked around the village a bit and checked into my room. I had a private room again and it was so nice.

I know it’s probably not appropriate to snap a picture of the priest during the pilgrim mass. That said, a) it was a great mass that infused Spanish and English well. b) there was a great pilgrim blessing afterwards and c)tell me he doesnt look like Dr Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey) from Greys Anatomy. Hubba Hubba.

After mass I went to dinner with a group but only got a picture with Diana from Australia who I adore!

Walking back to my room I saw these amazing rainbows! It was absolutely beautiful.

It was a beautiful end to a great day!

Day 32: O’Cebreiro to Tricastela

By admin

On June 2, 2023

In Camino de Santiago 5/2023

Miles: 16.1 Steps: 35,250

Todays selfie:

Talk about big slugs. What if slugs were just snails who got a divorce…”Yep she got the house!”

Statue of a pilgrim at the top of the hill.

**Advice from a Tree**
Dear friend
Stand tall and proud
Sink your roots deeply into the Earth
Reflect the light of your true nature
Think long term
Go out on a limb
Remember your place among all living beings
Embrace with joy the changing seasons
For each yields its own abundance
The energy and birth of spring
The growth and contentment of summer
The wisdom to let go of leaves in the fall
The rest and quiet renewal of winter
Feel the wind and the sun
And delight in their presence
Look up at the moon that shines down upon you
And the mystery of the stars at night
Seek nourishment from the good things in life
Simple pleasures Earth, fresh air, light
Be content with your natural beauty
Drink plenty of water
Let your limbs sway and dance in the breezes
Be flexible
Remember your roots
Enjoy the view!

I had a vino tinto with dinner and met up with Cindy, Lou, Brenda and Diana.

More bathroom humor. What is even happening in the top one?

I was very happy to check into my room at the Iberik Hotel Tricastela. It was very new and clean and even included breakfast.

My bruise from my fall 4 days ago is doing much better.

Day 33: Tricastela to Sarria

By admin

On June 3, 2023

In Camino de Santiago 5/2023

Miles: 18.43/ Steps:40,402

Today’s Selfie:

Today was my hardest day mentally. My heel is in a lot of pain and the idea of quitting crossed my mind a time or two but I am pushing thru and was super happy to make it to the alburgue. I’m too close now to even consider that as an option. That said, I decided to go see the Samos Monastery and honestly I just shouldn’t have because it was an extra 5 miles. The walk was beautiful and the Monastery was divine but my foot was really sore and there were no bars/restaurants that were open on the path so it wasn’t until after I got to Sarria that I realized that I walked the 15 miles without a break and I had to walk throughout the hour tour. I’ve spent the night doing different stretches and using anti inflammatory cream and am hoping tomorrow is much better. I guess all the days can’t be rainbows and daisies. To top the day off, I shattered a bottle of cough syrup all over the floor next to my bed as I was getting ready to go to sleep.
I did get a bottom bunk in the dorm room and clean sheets and no one slept above me so that was a good way to end the evening. 5 days and 70 miles to go. I’ve got this!

So many deserted buildings that are beautiful to look at. I spend tons of time creating mythical stories of times past in those buildings. I will never know but it’s fun to try to imagine.

I also got yelled at by one of the local cows.

Most of todays path was similar to this shot. It was gorgeous!

Below are some pictures of the Samos Monastery:

I got to Sarria and was trying to get to my Alburgue. This was the last thing I wanted to see.

I stayed in the dorm room at Obradoiro. The bathrooms were not the best and the lighting wasn’t bright enough for me but the hostel manager was lovely and the living space was very clean. I had the bottom bunk on the left and felt lucky that no one was above me.

I had a late lunch/early dinner and then headed back to the alburgue to give my feet some TLC and have an early night. In the picture clockwise from the bottom is Greg, Joe, Me and 2 girls who’s names I forget.

Day 34: Sarria to Portomarin

By admin

On June 4, 2023

In Camino de Santiago 5/2023

Miles 17.84 Steps: 39,054

Todays selfie.

Pictures with the Sarria sign as I walked out of town. To give you some back history, Sarria serves as the starting point for the last 100km of the Camino de Santiago. 100km is required to get your Compostela which is essentially your participation ribbon for doing the walk although about half of the people start earlier on the Camino and about 30% of people start in Saint Jean Pied de Port, France which is where I started. With that in mind, there are so many new people on the trail. Lots of Spaniards and school groups also start from here as well. Most of these new “pilgrims” are walking very fast, have clean clothes and clean shoes and very high spirits. You can totally tell the difference between them and people who have been walking the past 30+ days.

Several goats were feasting on the trees as we walked out of town.

It was a very beautiful walk through forests a lot of the day.

There were tons of villages along the trail today that gave more insight into the daily activities of people who live in the countryside. There were several dogs guarding their homes and there were also a lot of cows.

The path of the Camino is usually pointed out by yellow arrows or yellow concha shells. I loved this arrow so much.

The official 100 km marker. (62.137 miles left!). It’s a shame it is so vandalized.

There was.a fun scramble down the hill before we got to the river.

And there was a fun bell to ring before we crossed the bridge into town.

It wouldn’t be a Spanish town if there wasn’t a steep set of stairs to climb before getting into town.

136 beds in one room!

I arrived in Portomarin pretty early and stayed at Albuergue Ferramenteiro. It has one big room that sleeps 130 people in one room. For an alburgue of this size, it is amazing how clean the facility and how kind the front desk staff was. Joanna and I had a lovely afternoon of drinks, food and laundry before heading back to our hostel for the night.

Day 35: Portomarin to Palas de Rei

By admin

On June 5, 2023

In Camino de Santiago 5/2023

Miles: 18.2/Steps 39,853

Morning Selfie

The morning started off a bit hazy but it burned off pretty quickly.

It’s funny how easily the brain gets trained. Walking up to this mile marker and tree trunk, I fully believed the stump was shaped like a pilgrim because there are so many pilgrim statues along the path. Upon closer investigation I realized that no….it was just a tree trunk.

Galician granaries can be made of wood or stone but they are always raised from the ground by standing on pillars. They are everywhere! They helped to keep the crops away from animals and were mainly used to dry and store corn. The granaries are on most farms and differ in size. Although most are old and falling apart, they are beautiful to look at.