Day 30, Triacastela to Sarria

One misty moisty morning

July 5
It was a pity about my bad experience over the washing line in Triacastela, as in every other respect it was a nice stopover, with a nice meal and company from Tom and Beth.
 I was asleep by 9pm, but an hour later was woken by the most deafening thunder - the loudest and longest I've ever heard. It was the continuation of the storm that had started at 3pm and it had never really stopped rumbling round the hills in all that time.

However, I didn't feel comfortable in my accommodation, so when I heard people stirring at 5.30am I got up and packed. I wasn't even going to have breakfast there, but the bar opened at 6am, so I paused for a coffee and juice (couldn't face more meat and cheese with crusty toast).

I met a Canadian woman called Minique, who had taken a year off work to travel (and was selling her house to finance it), then set off into the dark. After the thunderstorm, the air was perfectly still, with a thick mist.

It was a lovely feeling, walking in the half light, as the world was waking up.





I was wandering along, minding my own business, when a couple wandered by, quietly mouthing 'ola' as you do, when I noticed that one of them had a Kathmandu cape on. 'Kathmandu, you must be from Australia,' I said. Wrong - they were from Tauranga.

We stopped soon after for a coffee and exchanged stories. Andy and Toni had taken a year off, just as the Canadian woman had, and had many adventures planned all round the world before they returned home. Strangely enough, they hadn't met other Kiwis - maybe one - on the whole month they'd been on the trail.

I told them about Karel and Anneke - also from Tauranga. We exchanged addresses and I went on ahead.

As I walked through the rolling farmlands, I couldn't help but be reminded of similar scenery on the Mahurangi peninsula.

I arrived in Sarria at the ungodly hour of 10.30am. There outside the Camino information centre sat Karel and Anneke and inevitably Andy and Toni rolled up a few minutes later. There followed a long catchup and promises that even if we didn't see each other over the remaining five days, we would certainly catch up for goodbyes in Santiago. (NB - Andy and Toni - I can't find your Facebook page - can you email me? petergibbs96@gmail.com)

Soon after, I arrived at my hotel. It's another four star edifice, with all mod cons and good wifi, but as soon as I get a shower I'm going to press on into the old part of town and find somewhere for lunch that suits my inclinations a bit better.

I've since walked across the bridge and checked out the restaurants on the other side.

Then I walked up the old stone staircase and through the old town - it's quite a climb and the sun was melting the tar on the road, so I'm glad I'll be doing that in the cool of morning tomorrow.

Here's today's photos (so far - may add more later): https://photos.app.goo.gl/kmPucF1omY8tHAWN7