Terminé! Y no hay scaffolding. Final tally: 981 kilometers over 45 walking days at an average of 22.8. 15, 650 vertical metres up, 15, 350 metres down (for Vancouver readers that would be the equivalent of 3 Grouse Grinds per week (up and down with a 12kg/25lb backpack!)

Another (unusually) beautiful day in Galicia! As it was a shorter day, it was a reasonably leisurely start, but it helps that the clocks went back, as the sunrise is now at 0800. No more need for folks to walk in the dark - although we seem to have parted ways with those hardcore peregrinos! … Continue reading Via de la plata day 44: Dornelas to Desiero, 18.7 km →

I'm not sure of the difference, but maybe this is not a mushroom but a toadstall I didn't write a post yesterday as the wireless data connection was a bit suspect. I even had to walk one km up the road to get a strong enough signal to renew my wireless plan! I only need … Continue reading Via de la Plata day 43: Botos to Dornelas, 27.3 km →

Cea clock tower The above photo should have been included in yesterday's post, but it seemed relevant once I'd breakfasted (is this a word?) on several slabs of toast made with the local bread. Delicious.  And eating them slowly ensured that it was light enough to walk when I was done It was a very … Continue reading Via de la plata day 42: Cea to Botos, 28.6km →

The funky bridge taken from the famous bridge! Technically the destination is named San Cristobal de Cea, but it's not often used. And my guidebook's recommended night stop was Osiera, where the albergue is housed in an out building of the monastery. But it was another 10 km off the direct route, and my feet … Continue reading Via de la plata day 41: Ourense to Cea, 22.8 km →

After a promising start walking from the town into a valley and up the other side in oak forests, it all went pear shaped for the next 28 km. All roads, minimal scenery other than the above photo. Ourense is the biggest town since Salamanca, and the extended entrance was via the industrial suburbs. The … Continue reading Via de la Plata day 40: Ambia to Ourense, 22.9  km →

Climbing out of the misty valley The guide had this as two stages, but in the interests of my compressed itinerary, I combined them. Even if one wasn't compressing, there doesn't seem much sense in doing an 11 km stage, especially when you need to leave the albergue at 0800, and the suggested destination has … Continue reading Via de la plata day 39: Laza to Xunqueira de Ambía, 32.6 km →

I guess I was a bit premature on the via summary. On our second to last night on the Costa Brava, it occurred to me to try and change my flight home so that I could finish the walk. Of course it helps that we have a superstar travel agent. Ashleigh O'Connor of First in … Continue reading Via de la Plata day 38 →

I'm writing this on the high speed train to Madrid. We are on our way to Barcelona as Susan's never been there. And hopefully it will be sunnier and warmer there than in Galicia! Susan has been soldiering on with a bad ankle. She took two taxi days in the hope that it would recover … Continue reading Via de la Plata on hold →