Day 11 – 19.6 km (12.17 miles)
Adjusting to the late sunrise at 8:45am here in Spain has been a challenge. We kicked off our walk at 7:30, and we chuckled about stashing our headlamps in our bags initially, until we ventured into a forest where darkness surrounded us. Lesson learned – headlamps are now readily accessible in our backpacks.
Today unfolded as a delightful journey, graced with lush forests, meandering rivers, and captivating ocean bays. The coastal path met our traditional route this morning, injecting more pilgrims into the trail. We encountered charming spots to snag camino souvenirs and collect those vital stamps for our trail credential. Proving our journey with multiple stamps a day is essential for securing that coveted certificate at the trail’s end. We took a serene rest break under a plastic awning atop rug-covered hay bales, engaging in pleasant conversation with two spirited ladies in their late 70s from Martha’s Vineyard. They figured they could handle 5 hours a day combining a balanced blend of walking and embracing the convenience of other modes of transport to get to their daily goal.
We bid farewell to friend, Vikram, as he departed at the trail’s split towards the coast, embarking on the Spiritual Path which includes a boat ride to Santiago. It sounds lovely, to be honest.
Today marked a national holiday – Fiesta Nacional de España, commemorating Christopher Columbus’s discovery of the Americas. Pontevedra was alive with festivity, as locals donned vibrant attire, enjoyed lively lunches, and strolled the streets in the evening, providing us with delightful people-watching opportunities.
(Having issues uploading to YouTube for some reason…I’ll do it later when I’m on a more stable network and update the post. In the meantime, you can just click the TikTok link below.)
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMjQT2oBV/
