Ponte Ulla - Santiago, 21 kms, sun, fog, high cloud, 27

 Eh Chico, You Excited?

We feasted so well yesterday afternoon that we had a light dinner of caldo (soup) and pulpo (octopus) accompanied by a nice red wine. They sure looked after us nicely! It seems that the mothers in Spain who work in the bars have taken a shine two us dos chicos and have been feeding us up these last three days! Very nice...they cook for four, and we do our best to eat everything. 

After a very warm evening, our agreed wake-up time of 7:00 was moved forward by an hour when Rob decided that it was time to get up? Hmmm. He must be excited to arrive in Santiago I thought to myself. So off we set in the dark...again. Last time I was here Billy and I were so excited to see each other and speak English that as we walked out at 10:30 after a short stop for coffee (tea) we missed all the turns and got quite lost. This time in the dark and heavily foggy morning we had much the same experience trying not to get lost. We knew where the start of the Camino was, but we became a bit messed up two or three times. However, we eventually found our way and off we went.

The first 90 minutes is a solid steady climb out of the river valley. Good thing we had our usual yogurt, bread and cookies before we left our room! Yogurt on the window sill, bread taken from dinner the night before and left over cookies melted and reformed into something resembling their original shape. 

Any way, we climbed and climbed until we begin to get above the fog belt.

We climbed higher still and the sun started to give evidence that wasn't too far away.

But it just wasn't quite ready to burn through the fog yet.

We crested the hill top and started down. Interesting morning colours I was thinking. Most unusual blend.

Certainly it was lighter now, but where was the sun?  A sunny day in Santiago is much better than a grey, cloudy day, or a rainy day. We know about the rainy entrances. Not much fun.

As we descended it finally showed itself...

Then disappeared again, only to reappear a short time later.

And again a bit later.

In the meantime we had been slowly working our way closer and closer to Santiago.

Closer still, just 8 kms to go!

Fog ebbing and flowing with the rhythm of the road.

We stopped for coffee for Rob...happy Chico! 

Now that he has a buzz, you'd think he would crack it on to arrive in Santiago! Nope.

Round a new construction area...the climb was a bit brutal this late in a Camino! Past the memorial to the July 2013 train derailment where 83 were killed. Touching.

Then the first shell in the road...

The first views of the Cathedral in old town.

Then over the traditional Roman bridge, 

And we were in and being greeted by Annemarie. Sat in my favorite place.

Took it all in...

Went and picked up our Compostelas before the line got too huge. Took some more photos with our selfie stick...not!

Went for a late lunch...Rob had his coffee, me my tea.

We will rest here until Monday when we will take a bus north to Malpica where Annemarie and I will start phase 2 of our Camino while Rob returns home. The walking schedule turned out to be a bit aggressive a few stages, but I wanted Rob to experience as much as possible. I think he had fun...for sure his feet didn't, but he and his feet did very well. I think he even said that he had fun! He learned lots of Spanish and a great deal about life here. For details you'd have to ask him directly. Certainly I was delighted to undertake this journey with Rob. It would have been so different walking alone. We didn't see an other peregrino until yesterday...too alone out there!  A little sleep and he'll be good as new! Me too:-)

It's odd for me as I have to remain kind of mentally in the zone. This is just a badly needed rest stop on my Camino this year, then we are again. So clothes already washed and hung and an inventory of basic needs required for the Camino Dos Faros. I will try to change the route map above tomorrow, fingers crossed. For now the peregrinos rest. Thanks for all the support received to date. Very appreciated and much laughter involved, as was the case during Rob and Geoff's Camino de Invierno!!

Buen Camino!!