We headed out in the dark as usual that darn sun just keeps getting later.

Up up up the stairs and up the hill. We stopped for a quick breakfast and kept going up the hill again. At the top we stopped for a couple of photos before heading down the dark path. We almost made the mistake of following some newbies down the wrong way! A quick reminder to keep our eyes on the arrows especially now.

The day was wet on and off and cold and we found it hard to find a break in the people for a rest stop when required.

A little while down the track we greeted a fellow pilgrim returning from behind a row of trees and chatted for a while. She was a teacher from Belgium who was with a group of 74 final year catholic high school students. They come every year at this time to give the students some lessons in independence in readiness for the wide wide world. A great opportunity for them but sounded like trouble ahead getting a bed!

As we continued on we started seeing the students here there and everywhere travelling in packs. We also kept bumping into the teachers as always one was at the front and one behind along with a couple in the middle. I actually thought it was a great thing for the students but thank heavens every school across Europe doesn’t do it or there would be no room left for the rest of the pilgrims!

The day was only supposed to be 21.5km but I tracked 25.39 from door to door. It was a long day. At one point a young spanish girl we had passed called us back. She had just started that day and the sole of her shoe had already separated. We tried to undo the string holding my shell to my pack but couldn’t succeed. Then a couple of Americans, a Venezuelan and a Mexican arrived on the scene. There’s always a Mexican guru when you need one.

So with the help of all and the smallest scissors in Australia we all pitched in and had her back on her way. As it turned out the Venezuelan had the same issue! Not often you would see that on the camino at the same time – but then we had just left Sarria …..

We eventually arrived in Portomarin absolutely exhausted and had to head through town and up a hill past the Cathedral – it had been relocated brick by brick before they built the dam we had crossed to enter town.

Spotted a man with a special trolley he could use with hiking poles or just pick his backpack up. I had to take a few photos I was so impressed.

We went down for a meal and were so late we had to sit outside in the cold. We both had puffer jackets with hoods which gave us some comfort. If we hadn’t been so hungry we might have stayed indoors and eaten chocolate!

Buenas noches