Camino Day 34 – Through the Clouds

Tuesday 23rd May 2023

Distance 21km / 13 miles

O Cebreiro – Tricastela

I woke up really early today, mainly because everyone else in the room seem to be up and about before 06.00. So I got up too, got packed and found a bench outside to say Morning Prayer. It was one of the most sublime experiences of my journey as I gazed out and was awed by being above the clouds as dawn broke. I’m not experienced with being at the top of mountains and this was a special experience.

I needed to start walking though.

I walked on and as I descended I walked through the clouds. So from sublime moments of being above the clouds to struggling to find me way though dense cloud I came out into the sunshine. A life lesson there maybe?

It certainly wasn’t downhill all the way though, there were plenty of ups and downs including some really steep, though mercifully short climbs. There were also times when I was back in cloud. I stopped for some breakfast at a bar on my way and continued.

I met someone I had chatted to at the Albergue at Rabanal and continued on down towards my destination. It was beautiful walking.

I finally arrived at my chosen destination. The Municipal Albergue at Tricastela. I had decided to use these municipal hotels in Galicia as they were cheap, only eight euros per night and didn’t take reservations. For this last section of my pilgrimage I was walking shorter distances and could be fairly sure there would always be beds available. Today I was the first in the queue!

I did some washing and hung it out -only for it to get wet! Galicia being in the North-West of Spain gets quite a lot of rain. Today was my first experience of fine days then clouds build up and it rains in the evening. It didn’t last too long and I was able to get out, get something to eat and go to the shop and stock up on snacks etc.

I had a pleasant sociable evening chatting to other pilgrims in the lounge area.