It was 11 degrees in Redondela this morning and still dark when the alarm went off at 7:00am. A quick pack and we were off to the local cafe for coffee and desayuno (breakfast). Maureen & Claire ordered the small breakfast.
Seems size, like temperature, is a relative thing.
As we moved on, the temperature hit 16 and we stripped off. 16 is not 16 it seems. At home we’d be freezing in 16, here it’s shorts and shirts.
Claire had read in John Brierley’s guidebook about an alternate route that would take us away from the noisy and dangerous main road, the N-550. Though it was longer, it was flatter, so we decided the adventure was worth it. As the other Pilgrims wandered along like a row of sheep, we headed off in a different direction.
We did get a little confused with the path, especially near Cesantes beach. Thankfully a shell guided us up a narrow and steep staircase.
When our path returned to the N-550, it took us only a few hundred metres of speeding cars and trucks to decide to head off piste once more. The trail seemed to disappear, but our determination kept us moving, even if that was on a narrow bush track.
Another climb and we were back on the main Camino at Arcade, a pretty little village absolutely full of Pilgrims.
Some more climbing saw us back in forest and at the Camino Portuguese version of the Cruz de Ferro, the Sign de Scallop Shell.
Then more climbing and more climbing.
And then the summit came and went and we descended toward Pontevedra.
And cold beer. Just near the city, the traffic increased and we were glad to walk into the old town where not many vehicles are allowed.
After a rest, Claire heads out for some retail relief, and the rest of us for a drink before dinner.
We rolled out of the restaurant, Il Piccolo, very satiated.
The Long Portuguese Camino 