I stayed in a gorgeous rural guesthouse, it was so rural it didnt even have a television! I left early, before the owners were up, so I had to let myself out. Not easy when trying to push a 50+ kilo bike through small doorways and trying not to wake anyone.
Up until Vega Del Valcarce the climb was gentle. This is when the real climbing begins. Today was supposed to be one of the hardest of the camino. Involving an agonising climb back into the mountains. To be honest, it wasn’t too bad. It wasn’t particularly steep, just went on for a long time.
Once at the top I got my sello and carried on. There are a number of small peaks before one of the best downhill’s ever, much better than any rollercoaster I’ve been on. The road was smooth, twisting and turning down the mountain made the climb worth every bead of sweat.
This took me almost down into Sarria (barring a few small hills), where I stopped for a tasty pollo sandwich and a sello at the local tourist office.
The route from Sarria to Portomarin is quite difficult. Very stee
p hills but with some very long downhills. This made the 20 odd kilometres seem more like 50, but I made it without any problems.
I never saw the French guys today. One of them wasn’t feeling too good yesterday so perhaps they stayed in Villafranca Del Bierzo. I did pass two Spanish guys I’d seen before, they make motorcycle noises at me because I overtake them so quickly.
Tomorrow is my last day on the camino. I will finally reach Santiago De Compostela. I can’t wait! Then I get to chill out for a whole two weeks, a holiday at last!