Our 21 km route today was a steady uphill climb through wooded hills. We followed a river up the valley.
Our walking was much more enjoyable today than yesterday. We now feel settled into the venture. In the last two years we have travelled down to Spain more slowly by train or by boat. A day to settle down after the flight would probably have been more sensible. There’s definitely something to be said for slowing down rather than rushing to squeeze in every moment. But
This valley is the main route from Madrid through to the Atlantic coast at A Coruña. We walked most of the way along what would have been the main road but is now quiet thanks to the autoroute which was above our heads. This highway is an impressive feat of civil engineering. We travelled up the route last year on our way by bus from Ponferrada to Santiago via A Coruña.
It rained little today and the road traffic noise was slight. We enjoyed the scenery of the hills and the flowers at the roadside.
We had hoped to have coffee at our mid-point village of Trabadelo but everything was closed. Marching on we came to the autoroute services which seemed remarkably incongrous in the hills. But two coffees and two pastries cost €5.80 so we were happy enough.
There is very little evidence of farming in the villages we walked though today. Increasingly common are dilapidated two storey dwellings with a balcony. Presumably the ground floor was for livestock with the family living above.
Our stop for the evening is a very pleasant setting with verdant pastures and woodlands.
Tomorrow our walk is only 8 km but involves 600 m of ascent going up to the top of the hills we can now admire.
Julian and Beryl's camino 