Left Triacastela at 9:10. Arrived Sarria at 4:15. 15.7 miles, but once again, map said 12.5 miles. Map can’t be trusted. And we didn’t get lost, but it makes for a long day when to think the hotel is just around the corner, but it’s still another 3 miles.
Incidentally, the name Triacastela suggests three fortresses but we saw no evidence of them.
No luggage when we arrived at hotel. Called vendor. Bags arrived at 5. Car trouble, apparently. Bonus, we have a full 3 bedroom/2 bath apartment to ourselves. Very roomy and modern.
As I wasn’t able to edit yesterday’s post, I couldn’t add a funny episode. There was a bat in Caleb’s room. Hotel staff sent a young man with a box to try and shoo it away. In the end, he and Caleb opened all the windows and finally got it out. It was a little fruit bat – kind of cute.
Our walk to Sarria started adjacent to the highway with the rushing river on our left. Pretty easy at the beginning.
The walkway was great then we started into the forest, little villages with no inhabitants we could tell. Although we did hear a man screaming. We quickened our pace at that point. Came across an elaborate cemetery, then back into the woods.
As usual – steep hills, then a descent that shatters the knees and shins. We are no longer surprised by this. It’s just tiring.
The flowers and greenery always catch my eye. Caleb is starting to appreciate it as well. He pointed out the hydrangeas because they were such a vibrant purple. Photo lighting isn’t great but you get the idea.
Then, of course, boys will be boys
This was at Samos. We are about 125 km from Santiago now from Sarria.
The rest of the afternoon. Was spent with Caleb perfecting his rock throwing (getting them to curve) and creating spears from branches found along the way. (Video above). It keeps him busy so I just keep walking. No rock throwing or spears in the villages, of course.
Last photos of the day. We always are heartened by the rushing water. Lovely to see and hear.
Then back to forest and on to Sarria. Sarria served as a fortress for the Iberian house of Seurros in the 13th century. King Alfonso IX founded the town and died here in 1230 on his pilgrimage to Santiago. So close!
We are waiting to see how many pilgrims we will be joined by tomorrow. It will help pass the time, I’m sure.
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3 responses to “July 25, day 31”
You like little fruit bats, well I guess they aren’t actually birds. We had one in Philo hotel, did the same as Caleb. Today we start 10 days of dog babysitting, Poppy’s ecstatic! Not q single delivery today!
Almost there. So you think you will see a lot of pilgrims tomorrow because so many people are getting close or they have only been doing part of the pilgrimage?
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Good for Poppy – someone to play with.
There different places to start the Camino that qualify to get your certificate of completion. Sarria is the shortest route, so it is the most popular. I chose the longest one, of course. Figured if I was going to do it once, why not the longest one do I could see the most. I don’t regret it.
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I like that you do the long one. Jean says, (
She is not a walker by the way) she would take the short one
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