Pena to Eirexe

We were up with the bats this morning in an attempt to beat the crowds. The trouble is that the crowds stayed in the main stop of Portomarin which is 7k ahead, meaning that we need to walk that and head on out of the town before they get going.
So we left at 6, having to climb over the wall of the hostal as the gates were all locked. Even at that hour there were two girls (with head torches as it was pitch dark) taking pictures at the 100k marker outside the albergue.
I’m pleased to say that you can achieve Peace on the Camino after Sarria if you walk in
the dark! I saw a fantastic black and yellow salamander just as it got light - quite amazing!
So in the misty darkness we walked to Portomarin where we stopped for coffee and toast, a bank and a supermarket.
Unfortunately the camino doesn’t actually go through Portomarin but sort of skirts its edge so it meant added distance and time. This resulted in us being back with the crowds after breakfast.
Luckily there were some alternative routes at various points which the crowds didn’t take - which helped a little with the space.
I met up with Laura in Portomarin and walked with her until OHospital where we stopped for about an hour and a half. She has bad leg problems but still manages to walk pretty fast but had decidied she couldn’t actually walk the 40k (!) to her planned stop so got a taxi from O Hospital. We stopped for ages because it was going to be way too early for her to get into her accommodation if she had got the taxi straight away.
She is a lovely person and I hope we’ll stay in contact as she’s already done quite a lot of walking in the uk and wants to do more. Maybe Hadrians wall?
After she left I continued on, now in heat of about 30c to our stop of Casa da Coto in Eirixe. Mad crowds again with queueing on narrow sections and loud music accompanying from time to time (see brief video).
The Albergue is great with a lovely garden and good pool. Swimming feels good after so much walking.
Delicious dinner at Casa Mariluz - goats cheese salad (and some chips to top up the carbs!). Very very tired now - even felt a bit faint which is unusual for me so going to bed at 7.30!! I really have regressed into small child!Lue lisää