Camino - Porrino to Redondela, May 26, 2008

This is pretty much what I wrote in my journal:

We left Porrino late, around 9 a.m. It rained all day long. My rain jacket really is waterproof but there is no ventilation and the inside was dripping with sweat.

This was a very pleasant walk. We climbed a mountain but much of it was on a narrow country road. It was all very scenic. There were many mountains off to our right with dark clouds dripping over them. Little villages along the mountains, so picturesque! Photos will never capture it.

We did walk on some paths, one was so amazingly steep the only way I could get up it was by taking tiny baby steps. On the way down the mountain there was a very steep decline, then we came upon another very scenic road - grape vines, tiny plot farms and beautiful architecture.

Redondela is near the sea, it's a very old medieval city. The refugio is a 15th century manor house. Just awesome!

We made very good time today and got to the refugio early. We opted not to shower first, rather we headed out to find a late lunch. It was siesta time and our options were limited. We found an open bar where our choice was a tamale, a garbanzo dish or a sandwich. I got the sandwich which turned out to be grilled ham and cheese, very tasty! Also had a cafe con leche and a cerveza. Next we headed to an internet cafe where I e-mailed Jon some tidbits of our adventure.

We were all pretty tired and had no desire to go back out in the rain so we decided to make dinner at the refugio. We invited a French woman we met on the road when we were all taking a little break from the pouring rain at a covered bus stop in the middle of nowhere. The French woman had a horrible bruise on her face, she had fallen earlier. She is an older lady and does various Caminos while her husband stays home.

Karin cooked. We had salad, pasta with meat and onion sauce as well as beans and carrots. I bought bread, box wine and dessert - which was yummo - Neopolitans and chocolate.

We met two British couples and chatted and drank wine with them until late in the night. We will likely see them tomorrow in Pontevedra. They were fun!

I'm writing this in the dining room. Once again, I'm the last one standing! I'm happier than I've been in a long time, maybe ever! Today decided I need to lighten my burden. If I can't ship the stuff home, I'm leaving it. I know I might be throwing out a lot of money but I need to free myself of things I don't need. A good rule to live by as well.

Real life seems so far away, almost like last week is a distant memory. Here, roosters grow all morning. Church bells ring on the hour in the villages. I carry what I need, wear the same clothes over and over and carry my meals in my pack. It is just so good!

Additional Thoughts:

I'm the slow and steady type so this day, I decided I would continue to walk whenever my companions took a break for equipment, bathroom, etc. with the thought that they would catch up with me. The first time I did this, I was beginning to get worried because they didn't arrive even after I slowed my pace. I decided to wait for them at the little bus stop where we met the French lady. On our way down the mountain, I again kept going while my companions took a bathroom break at a garden center. When enough time had passed and I didn't see them, I took a break and sat on a stone wall to wait for them but when they again didn't arrive, I decided I needed to keep on moving. When I reached Redondela, I sat on a curb and again waited until they finally appeared. I realized how much I enjoyed walking alone, at my own pace. There was such a sense of freedom, I didn't feel rushed. I was able to just enjoy the walk. I was surpised at how long I waited for this speedy group to catch up and it was a sharp reminder of how much time is wasted on rest and other types of stops!

I'm kind of amazed that I went all day without eating lunch at lunchtime. It was probably close to four when we finally ate lunch at the bar near the Marina District in Redondela!