Day 18: Palas De Rei to Arzua 29km

Early this morning above Palas De Rei

We have been very lucky with the weather. In the five weeks over two years that we have walked the Camino, it has essentially been hot and sunny. We had one one hour period last year when we had to don the waterproofs, and one 15 minute heavy shower two weeks ago when we happened to be in a bar/cafe having breakfast. We thought our luck had run out this morning when there was a drizzle as we left our albergue. We risked starting without our waterproofs (they make you so hot and sticky) and were rewarded with it drying up fairly quickly.

Arzua is another forgettable place. We're writing this at 4.30 ish and these places brighten up when siesta finishes at 5pm - but this place looks to be beyond redemption. There are a lot of iffy towns on this stretch compared to some of the wonderful places we have passed through.

We walked almost 30km today - a good chunk of it with Charlie and May, from Virginia, who we have met on and off for the past week. Chatting with them helped the kilometers fly by. We are only two days away from Santiago de Compostela and it is 39km from here. So, to extend our time in the city, we are going to walk 34km tomorrow (Thursday), leaving us a short walk into the city and a full day there on Friday - we fly home on Saturday evening.

'Horse Outside', Palas De Rei yesterday.

About two weeks ago, we shared a dorm with a Spanish man and his three female companions (relations perhaps) all of our vintage. They had lots of bedclothes/extras that couldn't be carried in a back pack, and sure enough he was taking all their stuff in a van to the next albergue. But we find that he drives ahead each day and stops about three times to walk back to meet them. We know each other so well from these encounters (despite our appalling Spanish) that it is high fives each time we meet. We have no name for him but refer to him as 'the man who collects women'.

Anyway, can't believe we are so close. If all goes well, we will be looking down on Santiago De Compostela tomorrow evening. Bring it on!!!

The church of San Tirso, Palas De Rei