Portomarin to Palais del Rei – May 9th

3rd day of walking – 25 km which we broke into a few sprints. First part was straight up. 45% for about 3 km , then undulating hills and roads for and other 22km.

Everyone was focused and just really getting into the spirit of the Camino. The way it works is that you pick or your group has arranged to go to a particularity location. The folks who are going on their own go as far as they think they can then the go looking for auberge.

Along the way, you pass people and perhaps they walk a little part of the path with you and you get to know them quickly then perhaps they move on with a Buen Camino and you connect with the next person.

You share your life stories in minutes and everyone always asks “so why are you in the Camino?” And there is begins. It is the most important part of the way. It is what makes you feel most like a pilgrim. You meet and share with many fellow pilgrims along the way.

Here are Bernadette and Anne and Doug with a Wendy photobomb.

After the uphill start, the rest of the trek was very much undulating hills, up a km or two then down,

My feet were dying! But it is so easy to just get so engrossed with conversation you don’t even realize what’s happened.

Today day you really feel like a pilgrim…..it starts to sink in and so me and my shell trek on.

Along the way, you will find small mini restaurants or outdoor pavilions where food will be sold and you can stop , do bathroom and most important get your pilgrim’s stamp on your pilgrims cards – each pilgrim must pick up two stamps each day and they will check and confirm that you have actually walked the trail as a true pilgrim – you must walk the last 100km/

Here is what the card looks like……

PILGRIM TIP OF THE DAY: Save your FEET – this is the most critical part of the pilgrims walk – making sure you take care of your feet- have the right shoes and really understand they will hurt because after all it is a long walk – some 15-19 miles a day.

Also always stop for a coffee. It is Spain after all – 11am everyday. Livin right! Here we have June from Scotland ,Bernadette and her sister Anne from Ireland and Allison from the U.K.