No WiFi connection in any Albergue since my last post. I walked into Sarria this afternoon. In order to get the Compostela you have to walk from Sarria to Santiago. Today was a long haul for us. The “us” are my Camino friends since León; Robin and Jonas from Germany, Martí from Hungary, Frank & Laura from Australia. We make up the four nations.

My two German friends are great as they are old friends and have a great banter and constantly making fun of each other. They are a source of energy and we call Robin the energiser bunny. Give him music and he is off like a rocket. I always seem to walk somewhere in the middle of the two of them. They have also been good for practising my German.

It has become cold since the last couple of days. Yesterday we crossed into Galicia in the mountains. The last two mornings there has been frost and all puddles of water are frozen. It doesn’t really seem to warm up during the day either. Yesterday was another tough day with a lot of climbing but by now I’m used to it.

Despite the cold I sweat a lot and my down jacket had a life of its own.Last night we had a big load of washing and I took the chance to wash it. Thank goodness for central heating and a dryer. It’s good and clean and fresh again.

Walking through the mountains is beautiful and the last two days most of it has been through forests. The size of some of the chestnut and oak trees is mind boggling. They must be hundreds of years old. This area is certainly beautiful and it is for me one of my favourite areas of the whole Camino. I had the best chicken tonight in Sarria with spices which just added to the flavour.

In Pieros we stayed in an albergue that only serves vegetarian food. After the Peregrino “take away” menu as Robin calls it, it was awesome to only have fresh vegetables. Then in Ruitelán we stayed with two Buddhists where the soup was fantastic. All home cooked and using only fresh ingredients; butternut soup, pasta with bacon, salad and home made pudding. The last 2km before Ruitelán we were starving and Robin and Jonas kept on talking about meals their mothers would make. When we walked past the cows in the fields we decided how we would make the best sirlion steak ever.

The Camino has a routine; you get up round 7:30, pack your backpack, have breakfast with good coffee and start walking. Most of the time it’s the distance that matters for the day and not the destination although you have to ensure there is an albergue. Then one walks; mostly in silence early morning, then we might chat and you walk until someone gets tired or we want coffee. Then you have to time lunch so that it doesn’t fall in the Spanish siesta otherwise nothing opens until 16:30. We walk between 7-8 hours per day. Early afternoon I start thinking about the hot shower and my feet want out of the shoes. Then you choose an albergue, choose your bed, shower and rest. The next thought is food and something to drink. By 22:00 most nights it’s lights out and we’re fast asleep.

I cannot believe that I’ve been on the Camino for 27 days and that I now have about 110km’s left of the way. It has been the most amazing experience thus far. Even with all the physical difficulties it has been worth every step. I have met me along the way. Stap jou pad skryf ek in elke gasteboek. I’ve met amazing people along the way and have seen and experienced emotions and vistas. I am grateful!! I think in months to come the impact of the Camino will still make its presence felt.