7/5/2026
Alison
We are leaving behind Redondela and hiking to Pontevedra. Our travel is lighter today. Not in kilometres or in elevation just in numbers. Julie’s blisters are all over her feet, walking would burst them all and that would not be fun. Kim on the other hand has the flu and the hills would be unbearable. She has a good reason to get better before we get back. Kim said,”We will stay and rest until 10am then off to the Paradores.” I think Kim just likes the Luxury of the Paradores’.
So off Louise and I went from our accommodation last night which was an old manour house originally built by the Franciscan monks. They were forced to leave the country in the early 20th century and the house and land went into disrepair. It has now been fully restored to its original condition and looks fantastic. Off we went down the driveway (400 metres) around the corner under the train line past the petrol station, across the highway through the heavy machinery yard and back onto the Camino path.
Today we join the Central route. Goodbye coast, it’s time to ascend into the mountains. We began on the road, climbing up, up, up. Did I mention we climbed up.
They call this the practical path. Don’t ask me what is so practical about climbing mountains. But yes we have reached the Gum trees, the shade has arrived and the cool breeze is refreshing. It puts you in a different state of mind. The sun shimmers through the trees, the lilies are reaching for the sun. They look like they have their mouths open to drink in the calmness. My inner Camino is in tune with nature at the moment.
With the sun shining bright there is a rhythm in my heart. It works through my feet as they stamp on the ground, all around me is the forest and the singing of the birds, my hearts filled with love that surrounds everything.
As the hill rises high my determination excels and I reach the top smiling where the place is all still.
We come to the crest, stop to breathe. There’s a decision to be made, walk 360 metres at 5 degree slope or 70 metres at a 15 degree slope. Hurry up Louise, you can make the decision. 70 metres it is. We have already climbed steeper ascents. Now down to the medieval bridge across Rio Verdugo. Through the village.
Is it worth the climb? Of course it is.
The views lift your spirits and give you the energy to keep going.
Our mission for today get stamps, we need 2 stamps a day now. Challenge accepted. Easy. We got 5 stamps. Everyone wanted to give us stamps. We didn’t even think to get stamps at the 2 places we ate at.
Pontevedra is a large town. It took half an hour walking along the streets to find our hotel but as Kim has already advised us earlier today, it was worth it. Time to take off our boots and fall asleep in the bath.
Ps; no rain today.
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