Day: 30
Date: Monday, 19 June 2023.
From: Fraga Alta To: O Pedrouzo
Distance (Planned): 25.5km Actual (Garmin): 29.5km Progress: 833/801km
Start Walking: 0554 End: 1215pm
Time: 6h21m
Ascent: 523m Descent: 670m
Terrain: Undulating and nothing out of the box.
Weather: Raining, then sprinkling, then raining.
Stayed At: O Burgo Albergue – €14.
General Comments:
- What should have been a pretty straightforward day, didn’t end up that way. The first challenge was operating on very little sleep. Even though there were only 4 of us in the room last night, one man was a World champion snorer. When he was not lifting the tiles off the roof with the volume of his snorts and chokes, the silence was deafening and I waited to find out whether he had actually died, before he launched into the next crescendo. Thank goodness there’s only one more night in an albergue.
- Needless to say, I was awake and out the door early as it was pointless laying there any longer and listening to that cacophony. I also knew it wasn’t raining and wanted to get as many steps done in the dry as I could. The dry skies lasted about 2km.
- Yes, another wet day and rain ponchos were the fashion statement of the times. Function over fashion always on the Camino.
- If I thought the path wasn’t all that busy yesterday, I was deluding myself. Other than the usual quiet dawn start, as soon as it got light, the path was heaving with pilgrims. It was nothing to see about 50 people ahead and another 50 or more behind. While that could be a bit overwhelming for some people, it did work O.K. and everyone found their own space on the track.
- I was trucking along well until I missed the small detour to my albergue and Google Maps led me on a merry additional 4km dance to get to the right spot. To add insult to injury, it had started to rain more heavily and that just added to the confusion, causing even more bad language.
- Thankfully, I finally worked out which was the correct direction to walk and I arrived in one piece, if a little soggy. I celebrated by washing and drying all my clothes! At least I won’t be too smelly on the plane!
Top Tips:
- Please note that the O Burgo Albergue is NOT directly on the camino. It is approximately 200m off. Do not do as I did and miss the turn. They also have private rooms if you have had enough of sharing a room with 16 strangers. Book well in advance.
- A friend I made on the Primitivo, Alain from France, was walking to Melide and then catching the bus from there into Santiago de Compostela. He said he had already walked these Camino Frances sections before and felt no need to do it again. When he said that, I thought he would be missing out on finishing the whole journey. After walking yesterday and today, I now agree with him. There is nothing really unique about these last couple of days, other than tomorrow when you actually get to walk into the city and stand in front of the Cathedral. It is completely your choice about whether you feel the need to walk every step or not.
Buen Camino.
Life...one big adventure 
Heavy snorers should book a private room! There is nothing worse than being sleep deprived. Lovely hydrangeas on your route today and a pretty fuchsia. I think after all those days and all those steps actually walking to the finish line must give you more satisfaction than taking a bus. But as you say, each to their own.
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I guess they don’t really care as long as they get a good night’s sleep! It’s survival of the fittest in the albergues and it’s the price we pay for a cheap bed. There are always strings attached.
Yes, I agree there is something satisfying about walking every step even if they are not the most scenic ones and/or they are soggy. It’s all part of the experience.
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And I imagine you see different things too if you walk at a different time of year and the weather is always changing.
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True. Last time I walked these few stages, it was late Autumn and now I am enjoying all the Spring blooms. Funnily, it was also very wet then too! Maybe I am the common link!😆☔
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It’s good for the flowers! And very fetching raincovers. Still looks beautiful.
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Yes, the place wouldn’t be so lush and green without regular raindrops.
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Every time I think I’ll be right! I’ll sleep! I’ll be tired! And then when you get a snorer … never happens. 😩 You’ve earnt a good sleep Mel. Tonight, tomorrow, on the plane fingers crossed.
And what are you doing adding all additional kms. Making up for the list camino years. 😂😂
Enjoy your walk in tomorrow. Look out for Franzpeter. I’ve been following his super interesting camino … you might cross paths tomorrow.
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I doubt that I will sleep solidly tonight…too excited about walking into Santiago tomorrow! I can’t wait to pull the boots on for one final day in Spain!🥾🥾🥾
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You will have me done it! A month long hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of kms camino. And another hundreds of messages replied to. Legend. Enjoy tomorrow, soak those steps in! And let’s hope they’re not soggy.
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Thanks so much! Soon it will be your turn! Buen camino to you, chick! 🐣🐥
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Hmm might need to start training. 😂😂😂
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Nah! Just pull that pack on and head out your front door like so many other European people do. I am in awe of them! 🦸♀️🦸♀️
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Lol. Yeah, I’m euro now for sure.
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Well, a darn sight easier to walk out the door in the Netherlands than in Australia!😊
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This is true! Ha ha but you got some fine walks as you’ve been showcasing is. Ho hum so many walks …. we’ve got plenty to do!
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We sure do. Not enough months in the year to schedule them all!
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Lol and yet now I dream of Asia … not walking but touristing. I should have been a travel agent.
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As long as it’s not a case of ‘the grass is always greener ‘ 😁
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Ha ha no, I love love travel and food and new cultures. Maybe it’s a case of getting back into the world and realising how much I love it! Glad to be hiking in Spain in a few weeks.
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I’m with you. I love the culture shock travel brings – opening my mind and heart. Buen Camino to you.
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We are home out in the world lady!
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Exactly. That’s why we have so much catching up travel to do post-Covid.
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Everest here you come! Ha ha. My sister has done base camp and recently went back for a second big Himalayan hike.
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Actually, that one has been pushed down the priority list. A few others have jumped to the head of the queue instead! 🚲🚴♀️🚴♂️
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Oh exciting. Road bike?
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Yep, well touring bike anyway.
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Oh nice type of adventuring? NZ?
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Nope, riding the length of the Mississippi River! 🙂
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😳 Whatttt!!!! Well that’s an interesting adventure. Looking forward.
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Yep, it will be BIG! Still in the planning stage, of course, but it will all start to take shape soon enough…
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I like the idea of bike touring. There are nice paths here that go between chalets. Although riding in NL is one thing … elsewhere it’s something else. I didn’t love being on my road bike in the Ardennes in Belgium without my NL bike paths.
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A bit like walking a camino, you’ve got to take the good paths with the not so good…but I’m hoping for lots of downhills and tail winds! 🙂
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Yes! As I opt for the one stop on the train to avoid the bridge crossing on a train path! Some pilgrims are walking this morning. 😭
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*have done it – obvs
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😁
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Oh, Galicia lives up to its reputation (and the albergues with its snorers too)! So, tomorrow is your last day on the Camino … amazing, isn’t it? Sleep well tonight (I hope) and I’ll be waiting for you in front of the cathedral in Santiago 😊. Buen Camino.
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Fabulous! Can’t wait to meet you there! 💖
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One thing we know for sure, Mel- those hydrangeas love a drop of rain. Wishing you a fantastic finish!
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Many thanks, Jo. Close, but yet so far.
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Another example of walk your own way. I can’t believe you are about to walk the last day already. You are a rock star! I’m looking at your distances and times and I envisage walking into camp each day to find you all set up and reading a book. 😄
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Highly unlikely! Bigger backpack, slower steps!
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Nearly there Mel!! Enjoy your final camino kms – hopefully more dry than wet :)x
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Thanks, Di. I’m peering out the window now at 512am and it is looking dry, if a little dark! See you soon. Melxx
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Nearly at the finishing line Mel. Home sweet home is waiting for you. Received your card.Love June xx
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Yay! Glad the card got home before I did!😁
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I feel for you. I’ve been a victim of snoring. It ain’t fun.
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You got that right!
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