A Seixas to Ribadiso

Pleased to report ear is better but managed to get bitten by numerous mosquitos last night so now have some v large bumps to anoint.
That apart all good. And the plus about the mosquitos in the room was that we were up and out before 7 having out the alarm on for 6.20. Normally we take a bit longer but marauding mosquitos are a great incentive to move quickly.
This was our last section of quiet Primitivo walking before joining the crowds, after about 14k, on the Frances at Melide.
The first part of today’s walk was beautiful - fairly classic Primitivo with distant views and high moorland again.
Stopped at a very disappointing bar after about 10k where although the coffee was fine, the tortilla I was given was definitely from yesterday and really wasn’t very nice. So we moved on fairly quickly on into Melide, where after a bit of pottering about we found a lovely local bar with croissants and apple slices - perfect breakfast (I think I’m done with tortilla for this trip!).
Picked up another tiny toothpaste and magnesium as seem to have mislaid my supply then on with the, actually not too bad, crowds, out into the countryside again.
The path from Melide to Ribadiso undulates gently and makes for quite a pleasant if not super exciting walk. We came to one of my favourite stops - the lady who sells coffee liqueur and very good torta de Santiago from a van in the forest. She was the same as ever and I bought a largish bottle (in camino terms) of the liqueur which I will try to drink before coming home as worry the bottle won’t survive the flight.
The people we met were all walkers from Sarria, mainly on escorted tours. Spent a bit of time walking with a couple from Long Ditton which was weird - they even walk their dog in Home Park so will probably see them there later in the year.
Tonight’s Albergue is the one Caroline and I stayed at two years ago - by a river with a pool. Very nice place. We had a light lunch at the restaurant across the road from the Albergue - local cheese salad and Padrón peppers (first this camino and delicious). Then back for a swim just in time before the sun disappeared.
Washing is out on a good line - hopefully drying well - so all is right with the world.
Really good pilgrims meal for €16 at the restaurant a food the road - 3 courses and a glass of wine.
Have heard from our group that they are now in Lavacolla together and walking together into Santiago tomorrow. Feeling quite sad that we aren’t with them - there are disadvantages to being on a set schedule! We are talking to the odd new person but as they’ve all just walked from Sarria and mainly with groups it’s a whole different experience.Read more