Day 19 - Camino 8 - Ferreiros - Lingode - 30 September

Early morning at Ferreiros

Started the day a little slowly. Didn't leave the aubergue until 8-ish then on the road at 8:20 am - sunrise. It felt much later and most pilgrims had left.

Many houses along the way from this point
set up complimentary tables of food
for pilgrims along the way - this was
the first one we encountered

Early morning

Fog over Portomarin

The start of this walk was delightful and Louis and I spent much of the first part of the walk taking photos of nature trying to capture the beauty of the morning light and the scenery.

After a little while, we travelled a part for a time and I had this lovely interaction with one of the
local Spanish women as she went about her daily chores on her farm. She tried to teach me how to say "buenos días" correctly but we both gave up laughing and merely shook hands.

Old man collecting apples fruit from the ground
under his tree

After walking about 8 km in 2.5 hours, we finally reached a major town: Portomarín. 

River or Lake outside Portomarin

Stairs at the entrance to the town

It was set on a kind of a lake and it had a quaint little plaza in front of a church from the 12th century. After a sobering cup of coffee, we met a German girl that Louis had met on the road weeks ago. 

A well earned coffee in the quaint town

Lines - I'm starting to develop a photographer's eye I think

One of a number of these crosses on the camino

10 time Caminian - knew how to gather food

So I went on while they caught up and I travelled the rest of the day solo.

Well not quite solo, as I met up with Irish men Paul and Kevin from yesterday - having a beer along the way and saying they may have a night without beer tonight. I went past them at the next town as well ... Having a beer at the very next cafe.

I had a chat to a German lady who was on her tenth Camino - not all the same one - but having a relaxing one this year!!!

Linda and her sister Kathy

I met and walked some way with an American woman named Linda - first time on this trip an American person has said they were "American" and not said they were from ... and they name a state that I have no idea where that is. Linda was a lovely lady from ... North Dakota - little house of the prairie country - and I learnt a lot about her neck of the woods and how she lives her life. I learnt the difference between sweet corn that we eat and the corn in the fields around us here, maize, that are for feeding the cattle. She is retired and is spending her time making a big trip each year. When she gets back, her next goal is planning her own seventieth birthday party for next year. She's the same age as Andy! Her friend Kathy is from Kansas she told me.

Our albergue in Lingode

Also Mark from Germany at the last stage and Florian again who took the last bed in the preferred Auberge in this town. Donna and Jess from Florida were at the other aubergue, encouraging people to enter, even though the lady in charge was not there. It's almost full now and the lady Isabel wasn't here to greet us, which was strange - she'd left at around three for a bite to eat and didn't return until around 5.

Now I am showered and happy, typing away before walking 200 m down the road for tea. Two shirts dripping away on the line. They will be dripped but not dried by tomorrow. I'm planning on getting a early night tonight ... Hopefully.