45. La Caridad to Ribadeo

Today has been a good day. Unbelievably, I awoke at 6.55 after sleeping right through the night. I’m not sure if I’d even rolled over! Even better, I felt healthier than I have for the past ten days, as if I’d turned a corner in recovery. I leapt out of bed (exaggeration!), packed and hit the road. There was a cafe open in La Caridad (I met David there) so there was even breakfast early in the stage.

The stage itself was shorter and flatter as you’ll see from the photos. In fact, I think this is the flattest stage of the whole Camino. The combination of more energy and less altitude gain made walking relatively easy. Also, it was overcast and still, not too hot, not too cold, just right!

There’s not much in Spain still named after Franco, but it seems this village is.

Cows - yes. Gold - no. 

???

How’s that for flat!!

And that.

The path traced the edge of the coast for much of the stage.

And into little harbour towns, such as Tapia de Casariego, where we scored second breakfast.

And then, on to Ribadeo.

More flat!

You can see I’m taken with this horizontal path. It won’t last but while it does I’m enjoying it!

As Figueiras, another harbour town with a working ship building yard and marina.

With Ribadeo across the estuary.

The path to Ribadeo led across this 600 metre long, forty metre high bridge, the Ponte dos Santos.

The pedestrian lane ran along the edge and was pretty exposed. So much so that there was a warning in the Camino app suggesting that those who struggled with heights and exposure might prefer to take a taxi across the estuary!!

It did feel a bit hairy with trucks racing past causing the bridge, or at least the guardrail, to shake as we walked, and a big drop on the other side.

😬😬😬

Here it is again from the Ribadeo side.

As we stepped off the bridge on the northern side, we entered Galicia, the final region of this Camino. 

From here the path turns inland, winding ever closer to Santiago, which according to this sign is only 189 kilometres away.

I am staying tonight in my own room, with sheets and a towel, in an Air BnB that David managed to procure at a fabulous price. It has a kitchen so we cooked up a nice pasta dinner. It went down a treat.

It feels like a day of grace after a rugged couple of weeks. Hopefully, I can finish these last days a bit rested and with some more energy for what look like some big days ahead.

Buen Camino, dear reader, and thank you for journeying along.

👣 🙏 👣