Day 30 - Last leg before the last 100

Triacastela to Sarria
28.6km
Accumulated distance 729.0km
The host at the Pension prepared breakfast for me (an overpriced toastie in what was otherwise a great stay) and then on the road. First decision was at the end of the main street, left to Samos and Sarria (longer) or right to Sarria directly (shorter). There was a resounding “no brainer” comment behind me and they all turned right. I wanted to see Samos.
It turned out ok, I had about 2 hrs of uninterrupted and quiet walking mostly downhill through tiny stone villages, pastures and cows, sometimes the combination made for stinky walking.
A cup of coffee in Samos then a look around. Unfortunately the monastery and church were closed, just my luck. It is the oldest inhabited monastery in Spain, there have been monks here for over 1500 years. Of course it was closed today.
A very pretty little town though.
Onwards through the villages and pastures, still walking solo, and the temps going up and up. Fortunately a lot of the walking was through leafy forests so a bit of a reprieve. The sun-brella came out though and was great to be walking without a hat.
I pushed through to Sarria without stopping because of the heat, stopping in town to get late lunch.
I got to the accommodation at 3pm and it was 36deg. A stinker. The proprietor at the Pension was Marcella who loves the All Blacks and who she met once, including her hero Jona Lomu. She dashed through to her office to get her pounamu (jade) necklace and carved earrings, then dashed through again to get her AB training shirt (“I’ve never worn it before, it’s too special”). I felt honoured.
The moment of the day was meeting Marcella and sharing All Blacks stories with her.Read more