Life's a Stitch

September 26: 18k – Coastal Route

 A nice quiet room last night overlooking the town's Roman bridge. 

We were able to keep the window open for the cool breezes and had a badly needed good night's sleep.

 There was a cafe at the 5k point, where it felt like a Camino reunion. We didn't know how much of a reunion it would be. There were the Irish group, the Aussies with their American friends, the Swedes and more. 

 We shared our table with two men who arrived after we did. The man sitting next to me, his voice and story so familiar, we finally determined we had dinner with him last year on the first day of the Camino Frances. Imagine, we shared the first day of our first Camino together and a year later we will walk into Santiago on the same day. 

It was another day of forests, vineyards and cornfields. Chuck and the Swedes had to stand aside for the farm equipment.

 There was a magical moment when we approached an underpass and heard two angelic voices in harmony, the pilgrims just ahead of us.

We are now in the city of Padron, just 25k from Santiago. Padron is known for their roasted tiny green peppers. They look like tiny jalapeños, but only one in thirty are hot. The trouble is, you don't know who will get a hot one. Last year I did, and it was the hottest pepper I've eaten. I've had them twice this year and only had sweet ones, my preference.

 After a brief rest we explored the town, starting with their wide rambla. 

Then we visited the church that houses the rock to which St. James' (for whom the Camino de Santiago was named) boat was tied when he came to Padron to preach.

This was the spot, where the rail is looking out over the town, from which Santiago preached:

So, we arrive in Santiago tomorrow, but won't walk to the Cathedral until the following morning. We'll officially finish our Camino de Portugues and start our Camino de Muxia, the road to the ancient "end of the world," a short but tough Camino. The ability to secure accommodation will determine whether we walk the entire four days.