Ponchos from Pontevedra

I woke at around 6:00 and it wasn’t raining. After drifting off til just before 7:00, I woke and it was raining.

Stiff upper lip, no complaining amongst our crew of Claire, Maureen, Steve & I.

There was a rainbow of poncho colours as very wet Pilgrims kept heading north.

We joined the conga line of poncho wearers across the Rio Lerez.

Did I mention it was wet?

The poncho wearers adjusted their gear as the rain intensified. The local Police drove by to make sure we were all okay.

The first few kilometres went by and as we walked past all the delicious looking cafes in Pontevedra, we became desperate for food and a coffee.

We deviated from The Way to a small bar for bacon cheese bocadillos and coffee. The place was full of very wet Pilgrims. The coffee and food was delicious.

Just when we thought the rain was easing, it began to pour just as we were heading out the door.

Even though it was raining, the path was very beautiful.

All in all, we were having a lovely morning as we climbed up through the forest.

We stopped at around 1:00 at a bar full of wet Pilgrims (not complaining), and ordered drinks and pizza.

Is this vermouth? If not, I’m not drinking it.

After lunch the rain stopped. It was a lovely flattish 4 or so kilometres to Caldas de Reis.

We walked through vines which we just had to try.

The reds were delicious and a few dry days from vintage. The whites were complex with musky flavours. All in all, yum!

Before long, we were walking into Caldas de Reis and across the Rio Umia. That river name is very close to the name of the beach where mum and dad grew up and met – Umina. This translates as the place of rest and it’s where we spread mum’s ashes when she passed in 2022.