We are on a bit of tight timeline, and I knew this when the route was planned. Rob has only just so much time away from the realities of the work world. So while I call this a rest day, you'll note that we continued to press forward a short ways down the road. This was a planned short day to give us a bit of a break in our 14 day Camino into Santiago and it's sort of forced in order to set up the remaining stages within the time available.
We started slowly today enjoying a Saturday morning slowly waking up. I know Rob was looking for breakfast in bed, but that wasn't happening! So we got our gear together and wandered to the local bar where we had a light breakfast sitting at the bar and a nice chat in French and Spanish with a motherly type. Very interested in our Camino, so a good conversation. We picked up our packs and headed for the road.
We found some nice vine yards as we walked.
Some of the initial trails were not well maintained, but not a problem...we carry machetes!
Much of today's walk was a tad on the boring side with plenty of road walking while the Rio Sil flowed through a narrowing in the valley and was accordingly confined by a dam site
However, there were some very nice moments along the lake area, with nice reflections.
At times the road walking was noisy and busy,
forcing me to finally plug in some tunes for the first time. That solved much of the pollution problem!
There were some excellent birds around the dam area...huge grey herons were some of the participants.
One last climb....
And we were in.
And a descent .
And it was coffee and lunch time for...you know who!
Now we are in town waiting to shop for dinner stuff and for food tomorrow. Sunday tomorrow...all will be closed. We've found a good way to wait for the shopping! I wonder when the grocery store opens? Well ok, maybe time for one more beer.
I have often said that it takes about a week to find the rhythm of the Camino, get use to a new bed every night, figure out where small adjustments might be required and to sort out one's body. Everyone has their own schedule. I'm finding that I'm now road hardened and that I barely (almost barely) feel my pack much of the day. The injuries I sweated and worked on over the winter and spring are satisfactory with careful daily management. In short, it's a go! Rob seems to be feeling much the same as you can tell from this relaxed posture on the trail. Imitating the local chicos!
I leave you today with a photo of your author high in the air over a highway wondering to himself..."this may be high, but if you don't step off the edge then everything will be ok".
Buen Camino!
You deserve the short day: a decent lunch, a trip to the grocery store, a chance to do some laundry *and* have a nap.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the road walking is there to make you even more grateful for the footpaths. Even the ones that are overgrown. Footpaths need attention: if people stop walking them, they close up. But when they stay in continuous use, they can last for hundreds of years. I read about the holloways in *The Old Ways*, Robert MacFarlane's book about walking. That's worth looking at some day this winter when you're thinking about walking but it's raining outside.
I read Sarah's piece on listening and I'm glad I did. It's very powerful. I'm going to respond this morning before our houseguests arrive.
¡Buen Camino!
That Sarah is a smart cookie. Maybe she'll grace us with the verbal outline over a glass of vino in Portugal. It sounds interesting as does the book you referenced. Just Skyped with Annemarie. She is off for her last training walk today and she's going to walk over to and climb up Mount Doug where you and I had that lovely walk. She flies out on Wednesday. Neil and Sarah fly out in less than a week as well. Amazing how we are in between for so long then suddenly we are departing and arriving. I never fail to enjoy and wonder at that concept. Enjoy your house guests amigo.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Sarah will bring a copy of the paper along. They must carry an iPad for blogging? Probably getting the gist over a glass of vinho would be more in the Caminho spirit.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been walking lately because my knee is acting up. I've no idea why but I miss getting out and about. Fall temperatures have arrived here and teaching starts in less than two weeks, so summer is almost over. Such is life (the title of my favourite Australian novel).
Anyway, I'm really enjoying the blog. Thanks for taking us along with you!
Ken
Hey Ken, hopefully we will all be here together in 2018...3 Amigos Levante!
DeleteYes, the three amigos... all for one and one for all... oh, yes, that's a different three amigos - no matter, in our Tilley hats we look like three musketeers, kind of.
ReplyDeleteA gentler day every now and then is a good thing so glad you guys have been able to make the most of it. We are enjoying the obvious banter between you too (and adding a few comments ourselves from the sidelines). I'm sure Sarah will enjoy reflecting together over a vino tinto and she will be just as interested in all of our reflections. That is one of the treats of an evening on the camino - the rich conversations with new found (and in our case now longer term friends). I savour such times. Speaking of Sarah, she has just returned to the room so I shall hand to her for a few words of wisdom!!! Here she is.
Well - I don't know about words of wisdom, but it really is lovely to be sharing the adventure with you Geoff - and Ken, I'll look forward to reading your email. We too about to embark on a training walk around (Ken) our Lake Ginninderra - walking from home now to add a few kms. After our walk, my Mum is taking us out to a farewell special lunch at a local country pub turned fancy restaurant - so we're even getting into the walking/food vibe (speaking of which, that pulpo and prawns looked pretty good, Geoff)!! Hope recovery goes well for the rest of the day ... see you soon!
Buen camino,
Sarah and Neil
Enjoy the walk and the lunch!
ReplyDelete