As per usual, I leave in the pitch black but there are busy roads and no lighting. It’s funny how your sense of hearing takes over. Especially if you feel totally alone….something I would never do in England…I listen for possible signs of danger. Gratefully, I see some pilgrims ahead all with head torches but they are confused with the road signs and ‘the way’…my app comes in handy but I have to trek at a rapid rate because there is so far to go.
This time above me looms motorway bridges suspended on huge huge arches. I’m diminished beneath them, how did they build those? Well if there is a road I can’t be far from the right place I think. Then of course I am taken onto the most ignominious tiny woodland pathway….is this for real I ask myself? I can see a bobbing light ahead. Its someone’s head torch. It must be ok. I shine my torch to the side of my feet and find to my horror that I am on a ledge. The pathway falls down into steep deep woodland!! If I fell, well I knew I had been climbing but this is ridiculous…bring me back my road!!!
Eventually the light dawns and I find myself on the alternate route…NO DISASTER…this is 7K longer!!! I want to cry but ahead of me is the little clean town of Samos and ahead, looming in the new morning light is a thirteenth century monastery. Wow!! I don’t cross over the road and walk the 500 metres of course because my feet are programmed and sore. But thankfully there is a little bar open. I walk inside and its like a Grecian temple and the almond cake is waiting for me….and the toilet.
The town was peaceful and clean and I stopped by a monument to the children? I will have to look up what it means…but I am nearly through today ..or so I think. I will arrive in Sarria…a big town…I will have a wonderful room and bath and everything will be fine…
I’m faced with an ugly 1960’s hotel with a huge sign saying Alfons IX. That’s me but as i check in the snooty receptionist explains that they do not do a picnic breakfast. I must ring the company. I do. They say they will sort it.
I get an email from the little gang…Come and meet us. Well I’m dog tired and U need to eat so I take the Menu dl Dia from the cafe hoping to get better service.
Then Derek phones me…where are you?
How lovely is that so after everything I decide to go and meet them Up 62 STEPS!!! We laugh and drink, they buy me a wine and I re tell the story of the 12 apostles. Its then that quiet lovely summer Carol explains that when she was walking there was no bar and she neede to relieve herself Derek stands guard nd as she is going about her business behind a shrub, two cyclists pass by and shout,
’Buen Camino” to her…!!!!!inflagrante!!!
I go home and after a salubrious drink in a bar that I thought had internet, I end up buying some scallops next door so I can write.
My room seems lovely, Snow White sheets tied closely to the bed but I woke in the night feeling uncomfortable for some reason. I went to the loo and when I returned and pulled the covers back, I saw a bug in my bed!!! I’m horrified…I spray everywhere, its dead, I move it to the side table…I don’t sleep too well with ridiculous imaginings.
So at 6.30 after collecting a MEAGRE picnic breakfast, I climb the 62 steps and meet up with Diane and her head torch to leave Sarria.