Jeff: Back to Spain

The next day we properly crossed the boarder into Spain and headed north to Santiago de Compostela which is the end of the very long Camino de Santiago, a 500 mile walk across Spain, which is a route a lot of pilgrims take (and hikers these days). Before we got there we decided to head to the supermarket for a few basics and I have to say this is always more difficult travelling then when at home. Firstly we always end up walking most of the store to find everything as vegan stuff is distributed everywhere and all the supermarkets do it slightly differently (plus we like to see what they all have on offer for us!). Anyway this particular visit was a bit more stressful as the route round was fairly tight and therefore one way and once we made the turn into the car park we saw the high restriction which was lower than the van. We got down the one way hill and while there was a outdoor section we hoped there would be an exit we could use without going under the hight restricted area (there was also another van in the car park so we figured there must be a way out. Anyway we went to do our shopping and then headed back to the van, to find the other van had left, and we drove around the car park unable to find a way out which only left us one option, I had to run up the one way hill, stop traffic and get rich to drive Jeff up an continue on the one way the right way. Luckily it wasn’t too busy but I did have to stop an annoyed old Spaniard from driving down the hill. Once Rich made it up the hill we drove as quick as we could out of the little town (finding a better car park for the supermarket on the way!).

Once in Santiago de Compostela we walked around the town in the drizzling rain to see the Cathedral, which was impressive and the many squares and fountains. We even managed to hear some of the local pipers which the area is famous for. While we were in the main square, Praza do Obradoiro we did see a number of weary hikers getting to the end of the walk and it helped me decide it was not something I wanted to do, although Rich was interested when I said you get a certificate at the end of it. After exploring the town for awhile we were getting sick of the drizzle so we thought we would head further into Spain and drove to the town of Lugo, well a stop just West of it where we could spend the night before traveling in tomorrow. We were glad we left when we did as we managed to get all set up for the night before the heavens opened and it poured down. We have checked the weather and its due to rain for the next few days off and on so we are having to think about our plans a little more as we don’t want to be cycling or hiking miles in the rain.

As it was again time for a morning run, we mapped out a run and headed out in the morning run, it wasn’t really raining so we thought it was a good time. As usual Rich ran off ahead and I followed at my slow pace until I saw him come back which was confusing but he then explained there was a bridge coming up that was deadly slippery and to be careful… so he turned around and carried on back towards the bridge. I followed him and watched him as he slowly and carefully walked the bridge then grabbed on for dear life as he nearly slipped over. Once I got the bridge I carefully took the first few steps and while slippery it was okay, until it wasn’t…I too nearly slipped over and had to grab on to stop myself hitting the floor. Once off the bridge I looked back and saw the nice steps next to it which would have been much easier. We continued the run and close to the end we came to a second bridge which we had to cross (I checked for steps and no such luck this time) so again it was a slow walk across it and then we made it back to Jeff in one piece. Once showered and sorted we headed to Lugo where we parked up and walked to the old city walls where you are able to walk along the top of the walls for 2.2km around the town which gave us good views of the old and new town before exploring the old town a little and finding the ruins of an old roman temple. After a late lunch we headed back to the van and towards the east to Baralla where we plan to stop for the night. Its raining again so we are trying to hide from the rain with the hope it clears up a little tomorrow.

We decided that sod the rain we will get outside and get wet if needed. So today we planned to head to the mountain town of O Cebreiro which is a high climb for those pilgrims on the Camino and contains old houses where people used to live with their life stock. The town is also supposed to have some great views but we wouldn’t know this as the clouds blocked all the views but we did get to walk around the town and went into one of the old circular houses. After a bit of a walk we headed back to the van, while witnessing an old man, who may have had a fall or something, be carried into one of the restaurants on a chair by several people and then an ambulance coming past to help so hopefully he will be fine

After this we headed on to Las Medulas where there is an old gold mine and a nice hike which we wanted to do. We set off and managed to walk most of it in the dry but the rain did come every now and again but we managed to get up to the mirador where there were great views over the area and the mines before continuing back through the forests to the town. After the walk we headed onto the camperstop for the evening but we did get stopped on the way as there had been an accident on the road, it seems to be the day for us to see all the rescuers as we have now seen ambulances, Police and Firemen

Today we drove to Agosta where there is a palace designed by Gaudi that we wanted to see so we parked up and walked there before walking around the castle and then buying some chocolate, which the town is famous for, and found several murals around the town before heading back to the van and onto our next town of Leon where there was another Gaudi designed house and old pharmacy (which was closed due to siesta time) along with some other old buildings before heading to a vegan place for lunch (a 5 cheese pizza for me and faux meat ball for Rich) before heading back to Jeff and driving north towards a national park where we want to spend the weekend (as we know Spain closes on a Sunday). We are a little sad we have now left the route of the Camino de Santiago and cant continue to play stop the pilgrim/hiker game any more but it has helped us decide its not something we want to do as the majority of them did not look like they were having a fab time.