Day 20 - Camino 9 - Ligonde - Melide - Oct 1

I'm tired tonight so I'll try to be brief. Today I left in the dark! I didn't think I would do this but I'm cutting things a bit fine at the end of my pilgrimage so I need to practice getting up early. Also Louis and I missed the Aubergue we wanted yesterday so we believed if we made it to our town early we'd have a choice.

After 50 min we had breakfast on the road at Portos. Then when dawn hit the cameras were out.

I was trying to get the perfect shot of pilgrims walking on the track.

This was Louis

I reckon this was my best one for today

It was mist most of the morning. I lost Louis somewhere around Casanova and didn't meet up again until just before Melide - our agreed finishing place.





I walked 22.8 kms today but getting ready for a 34 km day tomorrow to allow ourselves not 20 or so to get to Santiago before 11 am. Then I'll be able to get my final stamp, certificate and still have time to go to 12 o'clock mass in the cathedral. A bit forced I know,  but hopefully do-able, without always being in a rush.








Melide was having an imitation Oktoberfest in the park opposite our auberge, so we both had a metre long sausage! and a beer for lunch then we explored the town.

Finally met up with Louis' German friend Tabea again and hopefully she will join us tomorrow.



We went for tea down the road to try what we really came for in this town - Pulpo - ie. octopus - they are famous for it. It was indeed tasty but the tentacles were a bit off putting.

The Doggies winning the grand final today was exciting to hear at 10:30 morning tea - weird in itself - and I did communicate with a few people back home about this - no one I met today knew anything about it.


 

Met two other interesting people over dinner last night who are here again today: Steven, an Hawaiian submarine pilot - taking a break from work to work out his future. Marita, a Peruvian woman living in Madrid, also looking for her future path. It seems common amongst any people I speak to along the way. Looking for answers about their lives and their futures.



Many on today's path have started in Sarria which is only 100km from Santiago. It is the shortest distance you can do to receive the official document at the end saying you have been on the camino. It seems a bit easy now - 100 km - but when I was planning this trip 100km sounded like a lot.