Because yesterday got uncomfortably hot, we decided to get a really early start today. It was early enough that we used our phone lights to see our way for the first little while. It was cool but extremely humid with heavy fog. We did not see a single other pilgrim until we stopped for our first breakfast six kilometers into our walk. The only sounds were the birds and the roosters. As with the last couple of days, we passed through a variety of wooded areas, small fields (many planted in corn), and small villages. The path, however, was hillier today with plenty of fairly steep ups and downs, plenty of work for the calves and knees. We enjoyed downtime in a central Arzúa park and still arrived at our albergue before they opened. Once we got in and settled, we had plenty of time for finding lunch, showering, doing laundry, resting, exploring, planning tomorrow’s walk, and choosing a place for dinner. And as is our custom in the larger towns, we capped off the evening with some delicious ice cream. It has turned out to be a much cooler day than yesterday, almost chilly.
When we stopped at a village bar for our second breakfast this morning, I noticed something I had seen in a couple of other bars, a set of stainless steel containers suspended from the ceiling. This time I found out what they are – tanks for storing beer. In the States we are used to beer being supplied in small kegs. In this case the beer is delivered in a bulk truck and pumped into the overhead tanks. Spain has a reputation for taking its wine seriously – it is also obvious that they take their beer quite seriously as well.
Day #26
Arzúa
Population 6,300 / Elevation 425 meters
Albergue da Fonte
Distance walked today 14.3 km
Weather foggy and mild early, overcast and cool all day.