Day 36: Vilalba to Santa Leocadia

30 km. I am within 100 km of Santiago! A bit less than 90 km to go.

450m of ascents but relatively gentle hills. It should have been easy walking, but it was sunny and hot - 26C/79F. This temperature is fine for a picnic or light stroll, but it is rough with a pack on your back and boots on your feet. Fortunately, it was pretty walking through trees much of the day, so at least half of the time I had a bit of shade for relief.

I started the day walking with Guillermo from Spain. We have seen each other a few times over the past few days. Usually, he is passing me while I am sitting on the ground eating a snack, stretching, or just enjoying life. Today, we walked out of Vilalba at the same time, so we introduced ourselves and walked together, passing the time well. I dropped off after 10 km to have a coffee and snack, then walked 5km alone until I ran into Annie and Josef having a quick rest. I joined up with them for the next 5 km in Baamonde. After a menú del día in Baamonde, I walked the last 10 km alone.

Mark has been great. He is very considerate about not changing my Camino experience. However, I have reassured him that seeing him does not change the fact that I am walking every step and enduring what comes with that, so now he has begun following my movements on Google Maps so he can occasionally surprise me. Today he wandered into the remote cafe where I was having my second breakfast, ha. I also invited him to join me for lunch in Baamonde, and he just watched to see when I was close and then showed up with no extra effort on my part. It has added a fun element to the day. 

I arrived at the very rural and very lovely albergue at about 6:30 pm and completed my usual routine*. Then at 8 pm, dinner was brought to our room (we have a small kitchen and a table). That was a welcome surprise! We had assumed we would eat in the dining area, as per usual. All in all, a rough day with the heat, but also many bright spots. Another 31 km tomorrow with more heat to come. Time to get some rest. 

*During my daily feet/leg examination, I found two new blisters, one of them quite gruesome up under my toenail. I took a photo but have not included it here. You're welcome.

Photos from the day:

The medieval Tower of Andrade in Vilalba

Leaving Vilalba

Pretty walking today

Old cemetery

Guillermo

Josef drinking from a cool fountain

800+ year old tree in Baamonde

Wide, gnarled trunk with carvings

Leaving Baamonde, I passed the ‘100 km to go’ mark!

The Camino markers in Galicia count down the kilometers. This one says 99.9 km (under the arrow).

Someone left a shoe to mark the spot. The shell is the symbol of the Caminos.

Walked over this medieval bridge.

Then saw a 14th century church deep in the trees

Fountain in front of the church said to be healing.

Walked through lovely villages in the afternoon.

Turned off the Camino and walked 250m off the main road to arrive…

…at the beautiful albergue!