Day 26 - Vigo to Arcade

Distance - 16.5 miles

After a nice short stop in Vigo, we got up, enjoyed breakfast at the hotel, and then set out to navigate our way out of the city. That was no small feat (pun intended)! Vigo felt very European, with beautiful old multi-story buildings, impressive architecture, and winding streets. We made our way past both historic and newer homes, a high school that was still in session, and eventually found ourselves on less crowded roads. Along the way, we stopped for a bathroom break—and, of course, another cappuccino—before making a hard right turn that began a steep climb up the mountainside.

Not long after leaving Vigo, we encountered a group of Polish high school students. For the most part they were very disciplined, but they were still kids. They spent the morning singing, playing music, and having fun, which added a lot of energy to the trail.

We ended up leapfrogging with them for much of the climb. The students seemed to handle it pretty well, but the poor chaperones looked like they were just about done in by the time they reached the top. Many of the kids celebrated by simply lying down in the street to recover!

Once we reached the top, the trail leveled out into a series of rolling hills with plenty of shade and beautiful vistas. We passed a small but picturesque waterfall and continued through alternating sunny and shaded stretches until reaching the town of Redondela around the 15-kilometer mark. It seemed like a good place to stop for lunch. Unfortunately, the staff at the café we chose were not particularly friendly, but a cold drink and the lunch we had packed that morning made for a pleasant break nonetheless.

One of the more inspiring sights of the day was a young woman walking the Camino while pushing a stroller with a toddler and keeping pace with what looked to be a four- or five-year-old daughter. It certainly put our own complaints about the hills into perspective.

From Redondela, we faced another steady uphill climb toward Arcade. At one point, the route offered a choice: 360 meters at a 5% incline or 70 meters at a 15% incline. We chose the shorter but much steeper option. At the top was another memorial spot, followed by a long, gradual descent into town.

Our first impression of Arcade was that it seemed fairly quiet and unremarkable—a place to shower, eat, and sleep before tomorrow’s walk. That said, we may not have explored enough yet to uncover its charms. After a long, warm day on the trail, we were pretty well cooked and ready for some rest.

Buen Camino!Read more