Redondela to Pontevedra 22 km

I realise after we have walked 2.5 km that I hadn’t started to record the walk. So the Wikiloc info is showing a shorter distance than we actually walked.

https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/cepeda-pontevedra-237381110

The day started with a round of alarms ringing from various directions. It didn’t particularly bother me because I had already been awake for quite some time, but I don’t understand how people can be so indifferent to their very immediate neighbours.  I don’t sleep for long hours and if I’ve settled down for the night by 10-ish then I would expect to stir by 4-ish. Although I have to say that I started taking magnesium glycinate supplements a month or so ago and I really noticed a difference. 

There was the same battle to wake Mikey which probably took the best part of thirty minutes. And being the considerate person that I am I couldn’t even shout at him. 

When we did eventually leave the Albergue probably around 08:30 it was still quite dark, but when the light arrived it brought our first true glimpse of sunshine. Such a pleasure and a cue for our first shadow photo. 

There are so many pilgrims today. I don’t know where they’re all coming from.

Apart from some initial road walking most of this stage has been on lovely soft woodland tracks. 

We’ve had a couple of lung-busting climbs and equally steep descents. 

We finally reach the summit of the second rise at a point where an enterprising caterer has positioned a refreshment trailer. I treat myself to a Fanta naranja and count twenty other pilgrims taking advantage of a rest after struggling up the hills. 

There comes a point where we have to choose between going straight on or take a diversion which seems as though it might be a pretty walk rather than following the road. We decide on the diversion and it certainly is very pretty through woodland and alongside a stream. We check the map after we’ve followed the winding river for a good while and realise we haven’t seen another soul nor any camino arrows for a very long time. We decide that we must have missed a turning to take us back to the road. Further inspection of the map shows us that this delightful winding path alongside the Rio Tomeza will take us directly to our destination, almost entirely avoiding the road for many kilometres. 

And some time further on, what we have come to consider our private and privileged path is invaded by other pilgrims and we start to see camino signs. We were happy to share our little bit of camino heaven. 

This beautiful route took us right into the city with just a 15 minute walk to our accommodation. I booked this place (Nacama Hostel, €20 each, lovely cotton bedding and duvet) mainly because it looked very nice and has excellent reviews. But I also thought it was close to the old quarter of the city, which it isn’t particularly. 

Mikey is out for the count soon after we arrive, so after a shower I wander through the streets and after 20 minutes find myself at the Ponte do Burgo (a medieval bridge with origins dating back to the 12th century, built on original Roman foundations) where we cross the Rio Lérez tomorrow to exit the city. 

I worked hard for my glass of albariño today, walking all the way to the bridge and almost back before finding a bar that looked nice and was open. Strangely most bars have been closed during siesta hours. Not only am I served fabulous wine but am provided with the most delicious complimentary crisps. And it is sitting here that I am writing up today’s blog whilst I presume Mikey is still slumbering at the albergue (he was!)

Later Mikey finds us a pizza restaurant close by and we have our first proper meal of this camino.