Day 26: Fillobal to Sarria
Had a good night in Fillobal. Got up, packed and headed for the restaurant next door. Had a good breakfast then I was off. The trail went through two towns then made it in to Tricastela, where I visited the mens room. They were amazing cloud shots on the way to Tricastela. Decided to take the route to San Xil. Went up through two towns then to San Xil. Then the route went down. And it kept going down. Stopped to get something from a vending machine at Montan. Sat down and a cat came over to see me. She sat on my lap. Must be the vending machine cat. Kept going down to Aquaida. Seemed to go much farther down than I went up earlier in the day. Flattened out going to Sarria. Went up a big staircase to the Escalinata Cafe and found my backpack. Had an adventure getting Camera cards and money. 21.8 km, 13.5 miles
Day 27: Sarria to Portomarin
Started out by having breakfast at the Escalinata Café where I left my backpack to be picked up. It is a few doors down from the alburgue Ave and right next to the main stairs. Hike through the city past the old church to a spot where they had the name Sarria in big letters. Took a photo there. Went into the darkness rather fast and went downhill and over river on an old bridge. Went under a highway that had a tall bridge and walked over a railroad. Made it to Vilei where I had a snack. Started hiking with stone walls and farm fields on each side of the way. Had some nice views but was cloudy and started raining. At Morgade I stop for prayer at a very little chapel. After Ferrieros there was a spot with the 100 km marker. Stopped for a photo. Started hiking with high school students. I heard there was over 100 of them. Wound around the streets of Vilacha. Headed for Portomarín. A one point the was three choices. I picked the choice with the Steep gulley then we hiked over a bridge and to the Albergue up some old stairs. Ate and went to mass will the High School students. 22 km, 14.1 miles
Day 28: Portomarin to San Xulien
Ate breakfast ate the Albergue with Stacia from Nebraska. Went up to the Correos which people said was open at 7am but wasn’t. Went back to the Albergue and made some last minute adjustments due to the rain then left. The way goes down on the streets in switchback fashion. It crosses a bridge and goes up a hill. Went past a little town called Campos de Mamoa, which isn’t shown on the maps. It kept raining on and off. I went through several small towns and had a second breakfast. One town, Airexe, sounds like a computer file. Went to Lestido and prayed at a small church. Went mainly downhill to Palas del Rei. Got my backpack at the Benito Albergue which was filled with kids from Barcelona. Continued through the streets of Palas del Rei which looks a little run down. It was raining on and off. Head out the other side next to a highway. Then it was one last push through the woods to San Xulien which has an Albergue and bar/cafe. Nice church but didn’t get to go inside. 25 km, 15.9 miles
Day 29, San Xulien to Arzua
Hiked out of San Xulien past an old church. Went through the woods over the Casanova.Continued on and posed at a pilgrims statue in one of the small towns along the way. Came into Melide and ate at a cafe, then went to the post office and mailed some postcards. The trail went up in the city then went down through some small towns. Had a long uphill run coming into Ribadiso. Had a coke and cake at a cafe with Victoria. She wanted to stay there because she was convinced that Arzua was ugly. I kept going and I met a couple from Madison. They are Jim and Deborah who live on the west side. They were doing big miles today. Made it into Arzua. It was nice. I had reserved a bed at Cruce de Camino so I went there. Tacos for supper. Confession and Mass. Fr Joe Felix said I would be a better man because of the Camino. 28.8 km, 16 miles
Day 30. Arzua to Lavacolla
Started out on the streets of Arzua trying to find a place to eat. Found one next to a city park. Then headed out of town darkness came fast hiking through the enchanted forest passed unnamed in little towns. Went through Peroxa then past a memorial for a pilgrim that died on the trail. Went over a highway and through the tows of Salieda and A Rua, towns that actually had name signs. Went to OPedrouso but didn’t go in the town because the Camino skirts around the outside of the town. Called and got a bed for the night at Lavacolla. Relaxed and ate at Amenal. Hiked around the airport. Found a bus for the Barcelona Students and met Fr Joe Felix again. Hiked into Lavacolla and found the Albergue. Took at dip in the creek and walked a ways to the restaurant. Other people were getting pizza delivered. 28.5 km, 17.7 miles
Day 31. Lavacolla to Santiago
Started hiking at 7:10. Brodie started at 6:30 and would be catching up to me. Foggy day. I hiked over to Villamaior where I stopped for breakfast. Somehow after the breakfast I started hiking and got on the complementary route. But I kept hiking. Went buy some commercial buildings including a radio compound. Connected with the other route at a campground near San Marcos. Went to Monto de Gozo an started looking for the famous statue. In one of the buildings I saw Fr Joe and the Barcelona School Group. Finally found the spot the Statue used to be. It has been taken away. Santiago was fogged in so I couldn’t see the cathedral. Went down a nice ramp that should have had a great view of the Cathedral. Crossed a river and stopped for a photo at the famous Santiago de Compestella sign. Hiked through the streets of Santiago. Stopped at a Cafe and ate. Waited for Brodie who I had arranged to walk to the Cathedral with. Met Brodie and we hiked into the Cathedral Plaza. Just took it all in for a while, saw some other people we knew, then went to the pilgrims office. There was nobody there so I went right in and got my compestella. Ate Lunch and went to the hotel. Went to mass later on. 10 km, 6.2 miles.