January 14: Day 18. Rondondela to Pontevedra (19.7 kms):
I realised after the event that the sheet I was given was to cover the mattress. A reasonably good nights sleep. I was packing and away about 8.20am, while it was still dark. It was hard to find the yellow arrows on the way out.
Eventually the path lead in the countryside on really nice tracks. They had a lot of silt on them, which made for easier travelling. There are 2 big hills today. The 1st was really heavy going and I was exhausted when I finally made the top. That took me into the little town of Arcade, and we were alongside the sea. The Camino snaked its way through this village and over a famous bridge where the Galicians had held the bridge against part of Napoleon's army in the 18th century.
The 2nd hill was really tough and never seemed to end. Up on the mountain I did hear a folly of shots and hoped they weren't aimed in my direction. A more important problem was that the flood waters were still high as as I went up the track I was wadding through water coming down in torrents. The water was so cold it was like standing in ice!
Finally I went downhill and eventually to level ground. Brierley suggests that a way of breaking the monotony of going along the motorway into town, was to go an alternative route along a quiet river. I took this option but with disastrous consequences. The river had overflowed the track in many places and again I was wading through water up to my knees. Finally there was a chance to get out of this situation and I began to trudge along the highway into town once more.
Eventually I did make it, arriving about 5pm, I found cheap accommodation in a hotel close to the Camino route. I had a bit to eat and began to work on this blog.
Reflection point: The way-markers are very good coming into and going out of towns. They don't just say cross, but lead you to the zebra crossing, where it is safe to cross. If we do the little things correctly. The rest will follow.
I realised after the event that the sheet I was given was to cover the mattress. A reasonably good nights sleep. I was packing and away about 8.20am, while it was still dark. It was hard to find the yellow arrows on the way out.
Eventually the path lead in the countryside on really nice tracks. They had a lot of silt on them, which made for easier travelling. There are 2 big hills today. The 1st was really heavy going and I was exhausted when I finally made the top. That took me into the little town of Arcade, and we were alongside the sea. The Camino snaked its way through this village and over a famous bridge where the Galicians had held the bridge against part of Napoleon's army in the 18th century.
The 2nd hill was really tough and never seemed to end. Up on the mountain I did hear a folly of shots and hoped they weren't aimed in my direction. A more important problem was that the flood waters were still high as as I went up the track I was wadding through water coming down in torrents. The water was so cold it was like standing in ice!
Finally I went downhill and eventually to level ground. Brierley suggests that a way of breaking the monotony of going along the motorway into town, was to go an alternative route along a quiet river. I took this option but with disastrous consequences. The river had overflowed the track in many places and again I was wading through water up to my knees. Finally there was a chance to get out of this situation and I began to trudge along the highway into town once more.
Eventually I did make it, arriving about 5pm, I found cheap accommodation in a hotel close to the Camino route. I had a bit to eat and began to work on this blog.
Reflection point: The way-markers are very good coming into and going out of towns. They don't just say cross, but lead you to the zebra crossing, where it is safe to cross. If we do the little things correctly. The rest will follow.
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