The weather gods were kind

Palas de Rei to Arzua – Day 32 – 29kms!

Yesterday afternoon, there was a bush fire just outside Palas de Rei…was watching closely in case it disrupted today’s walking…all reports said it was under control late afternoon…then in the evening the heavens opened up with thunderstorms and torrential rain for a couple of hours! So that would have dampened things off!

So this morning I left in the dark at 6am, with my picnic from the hotel…discarded the banana but loaded the rest of the bag into my pack! As it was overcast there was not much twilight…but I cottoned on (discretely of course) to a couple of well prepared headlamp walkers…of course after clearing town…we were in forest going up hill. Nothing like the early morning uphill to get the body awake (actually I can think of more pleasant ways!)

Due to the clouds, it was kind of moody…like me at this time…not sure my legs would manage a close to 30km day at this point in the adventure!

But the sky lightened after my climb and the temperature was a mere 19 degrees…not saying I was cool and I had already stripped off to T Shirt only fairly early on in the piece!

The sun peeked out for a bit this morning ..then clouds rolled in and kept us cool! Again the pilgrims were ahead of the Sunday walkers!

There are so many villages on the way now that I won’t mention all their names…but walking through most of them takes no longer than as n 5 minutes…the first coffee stop was, putting it nicely, cheap and cheerful…I didn’t even finish this one!

The next few kms were up hill, downhill, over bridges….it was definitely a pole day!

Lifestyle blocks with big yards, wishing wells and even the odd pool!

Coming into Melide…a bigger town around 10am and the halfway point on today’s walk, I was really ready for a real coffee…

Ran into my Kiwi friend Caro(who walks really fast) who is also travelling solo…but we just pass on the day as she roars past fast!

The river below was clear and reflective…still coolish despite the constant climbing of rolling hills..

Taxi signs on every corner…to tempt those who want to take a transport day…

After I navigated town to the old part and had in sight the way out, I stopped at a bar and had my first real coffee of the day! Legs still feeling pretty good at this stage, and overcast, lower temperatures, made me feel I could walk the whole day!

Leaving town (another Up!) I reached the church and graveyard at the top of the hill…another 15 kms to go! Up, down, Up, down.., rinse and repeat…

This guy came running from the other side of the paddock to pose for his picture..

Water wells, usually with slimy green water…

The odd rock balance beam to test the faint hearted!

Sooo…Bart Simpson has done this walk…someone obviously found him important enough to paint a mural of him….

The track today was, in most part, shaded with tall forests and cloudy skies…about 6kms out of Melide …

And over a few more hills, I came to the village of Boente…where my friend Jean had landed from her taxi ride…the place was dead and there were no cafes… I dragged out my picnic sandwiches, which went straight in the bin….had some water and headed off around midday…for the last 8-9kms

A few long straight ones, but still mainly up and down…

Fields and villages in the distance

Rather large immaculately groomed properties..

More little bridges at the bottom of the downs!

Then spying the village of Arzúa at the top of the next hill…I was quite pleased as my feet were ready to escape! But it was further than it looked of course…up a very steep concreted road…

Past the garden geese…then a couple of kilometres of gentle strait incline until I reached the business end of town…ie: cafes and hotels and hostels…

High on a hill…one good thing is tomorrow’s walk will start with a down!! Rather thirsty and hungry, I stopped at a cafe near my hotel,

Took a beer and Lasagne…around 2pm…before checking in…showered and a little nap…now hungry again…off to search for an early dinner before crashing for the night…