Into the last days of the journey to Santiago, with my Camino Compadres stretched out in either direction (but still constantly communicating via WhatsApp), it was a quieter day’s walk for me, with Ruben and Nina of Belgium for company for most of the way.

The country is flattening and becoming more woody, with eucalyptus forests providing plenty of shade, although the sun hid behind high grey clouds for most of the day.

It was great to bump into Freddie from Germany again and to recall The Eamonn Incident at dinner with his friends, as well as a few other Camino stories too.

The deluge of New People after Sarria had thinned out quite substantially and it was a very peaceful day.

Entirely appropriate, as it was the International Day Of Peace, which was marked in fine style thanks to Gea of Holland organising a circle of peace for about a dozen of us to sit and listen to each other.

We had a good go at defining what peace meant to us, the meaning of the Camino, and then we had a bit of a singsong, including an Eritrean folk song and “Don’t Look Back In Anger”, to which more people knew the words….

As the moon grows fuller in the night sky, it’s a reminder of those first few days of the Camino, a full four weeks ago, when it helped to light my way – and a sense of a cycle being completed.

Sadly, it was not to be the International Night Of Peace, as our hopes of a good night’s sleep were shattered by a voluminous snorer who was already making the dormitory vibrate at 9.30pm and continued to do so until we all gave up and got up at 6am.

Charitable thoughts are slightly harder to hold in those circumstances.

Never mind, off we go.

Albergue Report:

Albergue de Ribadiso da Baixo

Splendidly located next to a babbling brook and a medieval bridge, welcoming hospitaleroes, spacious bunks in split level blocks, with very good shower blocks in a separate building. Great local restaurant.

Health Report:

Trips, Slips and Falls: 0 (3)

Pineapple Solero Consumption: 1 (9)

Applications of Factor 50: 0 (109)

Filling of Water Bottles: 1 (59)

Wrong turns taken: 0 (5)

Number of times “Buen Camino” was said: About 50

Song Of The Day: Give Peace A Chance, by The Plastic Ono Band