The day started with a free coffee from the receptionist and another free coffee that was smuggled past the receptionist without her knowing. I had slept really well despite the uncovering of several bed bugs the night before. I didn’t care too much, I don’t react to them so they can have a nibble if they want. 

I told the guy at the counter about them and he just said “ah, don’t say that man” in a voice that suggested it was a bigger deal than I thought it was. Oh well. I’m sure everything will be fine.

As we walked out of the village there was a thick fog laying low over the fields. It was lovely to look at as the sun did it’s best to shine through. 

Further down the way we stumbled across some gorgeous donkeys so we had to stop and give them a pat on the nose.

We also got our photo taken by some french people. Bit weird they asked to be honest. 

A man called Klaus walked with us for a bit. He was telling me that on a new year’s party one of his friends talked to him about the Camino. He said that, at the time, he had a three year old kid so it wasn’t an option but the seed had been planted. On his kids 18th birthday he celebrated with them in the morning and left to do the Camino in the afternoon. He walked out of his door in Switzerland and walked to Santiago. 2000km!!

Bloke was awesome.

The route was actually quite picturesque today. Mostly road walking but nice country roads with some lovely buildings and small towns spattered along them. 

We came across a sign that said we were 530km from Santiago. Officially ticked off over 300km now. Proper chuffed considering I’ve spent most of my time on beaches or in bars.

Our walk took us through a small town where there was a little toy car for the kids to play in. Naturally this happened. 

I then saw a taverna so I stopped for coffee and a tortilla and Jenny carried on along the way.

When I left I put my headphones in and listened to some music while practicing twirling my walking poles like a batton. Then I wondered if dogs paws are thicker in Spain because the ground is hotter. Then I went back to twirling the poles.

I bumped into a hippy doing special stamps for the Camino passport. You chose 3 small wax cubes of different colours then he melted them and did a stamp for you. I’m well chuffed with it.

He also offered me something to smoke (if you know what I mean)

Really lovely bloke. 

About an hour later I saw Greg and Jenny having a sit down on a bench in the shade. I stopped and we chilled out for a while. We were right next to a beautiful church that was obviously closed like they all seem to be. 

Greg left towards the beach we were heading to and we followed a short while after.

We bumped in to him again as he was sitting in a bar drinking a beer. I joined him because that’s what I fo when I see friends drinking beer.

We then made our way to the beach. Jenny picked out a fantastic spot and we lay there cooking in the sun. 

I went for a swim and started swimming out to catch some bigger waves to body surf on. A few other guys saw me and came out to join. I then swam back in and they all got whistled at by the lifeguard for being too far out. 

Im a rebel pilgrim. 

Greg joined us for the walk to the campsite. Greg hasn’t got a tent and he sleeps in a hammock. When he enquired about putting the hammock up the lady said no. He looked at her puzzled and said “don’t you have trees on your campsite?” For some reason that really tickled me. She then went on to say a load of gumf about the manager not wanting hammocks or something so we gave up on that idea. We retired to the bar for a drink and a bite to eat and then Greg wandered off in to the darkness. 

I’m sure he will be fine. 

My friend Micheal sent me a bunch of photos he had taken from our time together. Here they are.

Well, that’s it today. A chilled one. 

BUEN CAMINO