In trouble again

Caldas de Reis to Padron. Spain.

April 16th, 2017

Well I am sitting here in Padron just 21km from my target of Santiago de Compestela.

Who would have believed that it has come up this fast? Admittedly I am sitting in a bloody nice hotel, one of the nicest I have actually ever been in, complete with circular fountain and turning area, a large stone wall outside and granite walls inside to set off the antique furniture. I think the name gives it away, ‘Hotel Monumento Pazo de Lestrove’. Pazo is a Galician traditional house at a standard similar to a manor house.

Just so they know a bogan is now is in the house (if arriving sweaty and carrying a pack isn’t enough) I am drinking Cervaza straight from the can.

The walk here was really pretty. Forest / bush with a mixture of eucalyptus they use in the paper mills & old oak trees to provide that lovely lime green colour and canopy.

: Lots of families do the Camino. A father and son were having the best of time walking hand in had and talking and joking to one another

The way took me through a bit of farmland, up some asphalt roads and then into the bush before emerging alongside a motorway (queue headphones and yet more country music) before stopping for an omelette and a cafe com leite.

I was in a spot of trouble there, as the Americans from Arizona were there and I had some explaining to do as I was supposed to go to dinner with a group of them but opted out, not wanting to see drunk Irish girls – not a pretty sight.

Anyway Real Madrid were playing and then Barcelona. Instead I went to a pub I had seen on my way in and ate chorizo sausage and some sort of tasty dog food washed down by Vino Tinto de Casa which was still bubbling some time after he had poured it.

Surviving that I tried to head back to the hotel. Now normally I am like a homing pigeon finding my way back to the hotel. Not in this town. For the second time that day I got quite disoriented which was annoying as I missed the first 15 minutes!

Entering Padron I was following the way markers until I reached what was the Easter show. It seems the entire town was heading towards me and / or stopping to have a chat in that unique Spanish way, in the middle of the path. The music was SO LOUD from each attraction. I circumvented the crowds as soon as I could, but then lost the way so tapped into my homing pigeon brain again (no jokes please) and found my way back.

Plans for tonight are to have a wee siesta and then venture out into the crowds celebrating Easter Sunday to find some dinner and have a look around.

STEPS: 27,773 or 22.7 kms – pathetic. Might have to walk a lot around town to make up for it

MLC THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Happy. Content. Life is great and I am a lucky man to have had the chance to do this with the support of my wonderful wife and family

WEIGHT: think that it is weight watchers Cervaza here

BODY STATE: 8/10 feeling good. Looking great naked.