Day 33 - Sarria, 12.5 miles
Well, my big lesson for today was ‘don’t squat to pee in a patch of stinging nettles’….oh yes I did…. Sigh! Fortunately, they didn’t hurt for long.
I slept in today, 6:30…I had arranged for a taxi for 8am to take me 4 miles to make this day easier, as this is my last opportunity to take a taxi, you have to walk the whole last 100 kms if you want your compostella at the end…I still walked over 12 miles…the taxi driver did not like getting up early to pick me up…very different time schedules here, and charged me about $25 for less than a ten minute ride. Very expensive by Spanish standards.
So I started my walk in Triacastela, a beautiful village, that quickly led to the countryside where I would hike the rest of the day
The uphill climb was pretty long and intense, although my ankle is still not 100% I’m impressed with how strong my body has become…I’m able to climb long steep hills without feeling that I need a break.
After the climb, I was rewarded with a respite at the top, as the trail evened out, and the view opened up.
In the last two days the landscape has changed from flat open plains, to wooded trails sometimes tunnels of green. The trees are magnificent, the birds accompany me all day, and with the exception of a few talkative groups, most pilgrims are respectful of the serenity and beauty that surrounds us.
I had to walk a long time this morning before there was time for a break…when I did finally see a little stand with fruit, I was so excited that when I left I went the wrong way, I didn’t notice the trail took a right hand turn there…fortunately a little voice in my head told me to go back and take a picture which is when I saw the yellow arrow… Whew! Saved by my angels again… That could have been a big disaster! Not a great picture, but it saved my bacon today so I will include it.
I still had about 5 miles to get to my town, fortunately the walk was still beautiful.
We checked into a private apartment connected with albergue Matias, serving real Italian food…so far all the pasta has tasted like chef Boyardee … The bonus was our cute little, Johnny Depp look-a-like waiter…he sounded so sexy when he listed the desert choices (we overheard him at another table) we made him say it twice…I almost choked holding in my laughter…so fun to just be a little silly sometimes.