Melide to Arzua

Sunday 5 June 2016 - Day 39

Melide to Arzua - 14km

Had a surprisingly good sleep last night and most pilgrims were gone by the time I woke. My top bunk mate, Katerina, a Slovakian living in Iceland, was even slower than me to get going. We had a lovely apricot feast on the albergue front steps last night. I didn't really feel like eating, as I had an upset tummy happening, and she had a bag of lovely-looking apricots.

She had a great story to tell. Her fiance, who is American, was working in Spain recently and one evening, when she was in the middle of nowhere on Camino, she had a text message saying, 'Do you want a beer?' And... he was actually there! He'd finished his work, so unexpectedly came to meet her. She took a week off from the Camino and they hired a car and went on a trip.

Here's a photo of the doorless shower cubicles.

As soon as I took off I knew my legs didn't have much in them today. I really only have one speed right now, so I plodded off along the road out of Melide. The way went through laneways of lovely mossy forest, and surprisingly there weren't many pilgrims about.

The forest started to change and there were many eucalypts, some in plantations but others just randomly in amongst the other trees. This one caught my eye.

Being a bit weary, I really did feel the numerous climbs today. Some were quite long. Once again, there were small waterways to be crossed, this one via a causeway of stones at the rio San Lazaro. Evidently there was once a leprosarium in this area.

I stopped for coffee and tostadas/toast at Boente and visited the small church, Igrexa Santiago, to get my credentials stamped. I long ago filled my first set of credentials and am nearly through my second. From Sarria on I needed to make sure to get two stamps each day.

More amazing eucalypt forest through this area.

Crossed a medieval bridge into Ribadiso de Baixo, where I stopped for an early lunch. Saw my German friends Christian and Olaf, so sat with them. Not much conversation, as I have virtually no German and Christian understands only a tiny bit of English. Nice to sit in company though. Here's me attempting to eat my cheese and tomato bocadillo. I had to wrap half up to take with me.

From there I went off towards my accommodation at Arzua. Once again, a few hills to negotiate but before I knew it I was there. I arrived so early that I had to wait about an hour in the cafe until the albergue cleaning was finished. Staying at Albergue Ultreia and it's very nice. I'm showered... yes, with a door and plenty of room to move... and my clothes have been washed and are now in the drier. Washed everything except what I'm standing in, which are tomorrow's walking clothes.

Tummy a bit upset still, but I'm in good spirits. Have two 20km walking days left... feel like I've been doing this forever.