Monday June 3rd Amenteria to Vilanova de Arousa

Monday June 3rd Armenteira to Vilanonva de Arousa about 25 km or so. 

We slept late till 7am and then started to prepare our feet and their  assorted blisters with Kelli’s achilles blister-being the most in need of care. We carefully applied two overlapping Compeed brand blister bandages to Kelli’s trouble spot and then overtaped with a strong athletic tape to protect the bandages from sock scuffing.  After this we packed our packs and met up with Ginny and Benny for a breakfast buffet before setting out down the mountain at about 9AM. 

Today was our first rain gear day. We all started in some or all our rain gear as we ventured off into the misting ground clouds and light rain. Our path today varied but often was narrow and descending big rocks or cut stone steps. All of these were slippery so it slowed our progress somewhat. This path follows a mountain stream and we passed probably ten stone mill houses that were generally about 10x20 feet or so.

A few had signs stating they were dated from the 5th century!  One such house was a stone saw mill from the Middle Ages     It really is amazing to see these ruins and some of the mill structures still had a millstone and small stone water viaducts that fed the power wheel with water diverted from the stream we were walking next to. We shed our rain gear after an hour or so and this helped cool us off as we carried a pretty good pace down the hill. 

This mornings path generally bypassed or narrowly missed villages. This was ok except when hunting for a banyo. Walking past several parks and later beeches, it was noted that in all these public recreation areas there were no toilet facilities. At all. For over 12km. So you can use bar cafe’s but to be nice really should by some OJ or a coffee. 

At lunch we had a set pilgrim meal which today at this bar cafe was either a Spanish Tortillas (eggs and cheese and potato) or lomo, a pork cutlet and fries. Preceded by a very nice mixed green salads. During lunch Brian noticed four Chinese pilgrims that he’d seen first as we were walking out of Porto. Turns out we’ve walked the same route, the Senda Littoral, on the beach and stayed in the same towns. These folks were having difficulties getting their lunch order made until they saw our salad and came over and pointed to them and got the point across that they like what we’re having. All were satisfied with lunch then we all hit the trail. 

It was on and off with our rain gear again as we made our way to Villanova de Arousa and the apartment we’d rented for the night. 

After arriving we got showered and went to get groceries for dinner and Kelli made a shrimp vegetable stir fry. After coming back from the grocery store Brian saw that the little clothes washer we were shown to clean our peregrino clothes had stopped and since it was about an hour and a half since starting it he opened the door. And we enjoyed the great flood as it wasn’t done yet. 

Tomorrow we take a small river boat from here to Padron and then walking to Tui about halfway to Santiago. 

Pictures of today to follow.