15 October 2017
Walking Day 32:
21.5 kilometers

Today was another really nice day walking on the Camino de Santiago, although it was noticeably more humid than in past days. For the past two or more weeks, the temperature at the start of the day has been in single-digits (Celsius, 38-50 Fahrenheit). Today, coming out of the hotel in Arzúa, was 18 at 8:15 AM! (64 F).  Dark, but already warm and already humid. We are hearing that a hurricane is approaching the north atlantic and may hit Ireland for their first ever hurricane. Predictions are for rain the next four days or more in northwestern Spain, so the humidity we are feeling today is the start of the weather system. If it rains tomorrow, I do hope it is not heavy as it will be my last day walking to Santiago de Compostela.

It was completely dark as I left the hotel in Arzúa at 8:15 AM. But with the emerging pre-dawn light coming slowly and the good number of pilgrims out early, it was easy to find the way along the Camino. Today, the guidebook says there are three shallow river valleys to cross. That means going down to the river, crossing the river, and then climbing back up. And it is very consistent that the uphill stretches seem very long. By the time it was light enough for pictures, we had already crossed a river valley and worked our way up out of the valley. Today the walk is mostly in forest or alongside fields, with only a few short sections along roads.

After getting out of the first river valley, we were in another old-growth forest. These old forests have really serene, peaceful feeling as we walk through.

Then as we passed through a village called Teberna Velha, there was this “Wall of Wisdom” and a long line of inspirational sayings along the wall.

Then for the next couple of hours we were in and out of forest. The fallen leaves are all around, and the smell is autumn.

Almost suddenly we came to this overpass over a highway under construction below. I do remember this from last year, and there has been progress on the highway construction, but after a year and a half, it seems slow. Perhaps this highway is just not a priority.

Then we found ourselves alongside or walking through eucalyptus forests. And the smell was familiar.

Some of the eucalyptus groves included fairly large trees. Small or large, they smell good this time of year.

Not often, but a few times, the Camino path was alongside a highway. Today, those sections alongside the highway were few and short.

Soon we were back in the forest and getting close to A Rúa, the village right before O Pedrouzo where I will be lodging for the night.

And we finally got to A Rúa

From here, I had to get to O Pedrouzo and find my hotel which was a little bit off the Camino path. The town of O Pedrouzo is not inspiring, but popular as a last stop before Santiago de Compostela, and has many albergues, small hotels, and restaurants for pilgrims:

At the edge if this fairly lengthy business district was my hotel:

Tomorrow, weather permitting, I will walk into Santiago de Compostela, having completed the 800 kilometers (500 miles) from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Santiago in 33 days of walking and one day of a taxi from San Juan de Ortega to Burgos.

Next: Walking into Santiago de Compostela, possibly in the rain.