Alto da Pena to O’Logoso - Bleak ‘Galician Sunshine’

-

It rains a lot in Galicia! So when it is only misty, it is like a sunny day. ‘You can get a tan, from standing in the Spanish rain’ - that’s one for John Lennon fans.

Not pulling any punches - Today was wet and bleak.

No, no, not more taxi signs, please. Thankfully, there were none through Valencia or La Mancha. Gotta love that roadside.

And those footpaths, where ‘gravity leaps like a knife off the pavement’ -  a wonderfully graphic description from Paul Simon (from Queens NYC - like Jimmy).
The mist cleared and the sun came out momentarily. I noticed people coming the other way, i.e. returning to Santiago. We bid each other ‘Buen Camino’.

And there was scenery . . .
and a riverside path.  
The bleakness disappeared - I had arrived.

Once I was settled in, and was warm and dry, it rained again . . . 
It will be a lot wetter tomorrow - in the ocean at Finisterre. 

Bring it on!

Comments

  1. Anonymous11 July 2024 at 02:59

    Almost glad a pickup truck nearly passed you bye. Enjoy the Finisterra finish Señor Mike

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous13 July 2024 at 16:28

      Yes, thanks. I was too. The bleak was beautiful. Or maybe I’m Still crazy after all these years

      Delete
  2. Lizzie11 July 2024 at 04:13

    How exciting to finally get salt water on your skin after such an epic journey. Enjoy 😊

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous13 July 2024 at 16:32

      A long long walk - and the ocean is only moments away 😀

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Santa Irene to Santiago - Made it!

-
Image
I arrived in Santiago de Compostela early this afternoon, five weeks after leaving Bayonne.. Flooded pathways, covered with mud, blustery wind, and constant rain made this final stage a fitting conclusion to my Camino del Norte. It’s been tough at times- and today was certainly top three. Santiago seemed a long way away this morning. While it wasn’t a long stage, it was cold dark and wet, very wet. Head light on again! To complicate things, I had rough night with a tummy bug that’s been doing the rounds - plus last night’s ‘Ubereats delivery’ from a nearby bar was horrible- what I did manage to eat, came back in the early hours- which was a relief. Anyway I felt a little tired and weak when I shuffled off into the gloom around 7.30am.  At the breakfast stop at O’ Pedrouzo, I had orange juice, camomile tea and a nurofen - what a combination - anyway it worked and my pace and energy began to come back.   Eric had a similar night (and breakfast) and we.walked the rest of the Way together.
Read more

Salinas to San Esteban - Washed by the rain

-
Image
I wasn’t all that keen to step out this morning- the ocean looked angry and squalling showers were blowing through. But I went anyway and got washed by the rain - and eventually found a dry place to stay.  I almost turned around after the first few minutes- it was cold, wet and windy and my phone was dripping and hard to use. I had to rely on yellow arrows (old school) to get out of town. Up and into the forest rain,  And evidence of a stormy night - eucalyptus  remnants everywhere  (could be Australia) Hello I’m Mr Ed! - it was the only conversation I had all morning.  I thought the weather was clearing - but no . . .  I needed to find shelter- marginal at best. After four hours or so, I found an open bar and had some lunch.  As I was getting settled and squeezing out wet socks, I heard a voice behind me ‘Mike?’. It was Roger from Switzerland- last seen in Bilbao weeks ago. We booked and walked together in the sunshine (surprise!) to the Buen Camino Albergue in San Esteban. Not as lo
Read more

San Clemente to Las Pedroneras - Staying cool through kindness

-
Image
Kindness helped me stay cool. The milder temperature and gentle tail winds helped but it is kind people who help one another in need. I felt that kindness today.  No one about when Sancho and I needed breakfast. So I ‘stopped into a church I passed along the Way.’ The devotion to Mary is something very special amongst Spaniards. There were mostly older people there preparing for mass. Breakfast was not happening any time soon, so we headed out to the plains once more. Can you spot the yellow arrow? I missed it but got back on track soon, to be  surrounded by poppies, garlic and wheat fields. The Las Pedroneras region is known for purple garlic. I walked in fields of gold. I stopped for breakfast. Some one even left me an old Coke bottle- The Gods Must Be Crazy- most quixotic. I left it behind. Over the next rise -  the medieval castle of Santiago de la Torre strategically placed to regulate trade and travel  Sandy paths were soft and I made an imprint. Sancho left me for someone else a
Read more