Camino de Santiago Day 15: Waiting Game

I decided to get an early start on the day, since I thought I might have a long walk to O Pedrouzo. One of the staff members at Ultreia booked a bed for me there the day before, so I knew that would be my destination.

Everyone else at Ultreia seemed to have the same idea of an early start, as a lot of people were getting ready at the same time.

I left before breakfast was being served at the albergue. I didn’t want to wait around for it, so I decided to get something along the way.

It was dark and lightly raining as I walked through Arzúa. The sun slowly started to come up as I got to the outskirts of the town.

In the midst of a damp day I started to see some inspirational quotes in the woods. I loved coming across these little Camino treasures at unexpected junctures.

I eventually came upon Casa Calzada and decided to stop there for breakfast. It was a popular spot with some people stopping to eat and others just getting out of the rain.

I got my bocadillo and zumo and sat down at a table. Soon after I sat down my previous night’s roommates, Makoto and friends, came into the restaurant and joined me for breakfast. It was nice to chat with them.

When I was ready to go I bought a few snacks for the road and head out.

The Ultreia reunions continued when I saw Debbie and Venita while walking through the woods. They were stopped for a break, so I only spoke to them briefly. I was trying to make it to Salceda for lunch, so I kept going.

I got to Salceda and saw an albergue on the opposite side of the road that I didn’t want to cross, so I kept going to the next place.

I kept walking and walking until I realized I completely walked out of Salceda without finding anywhere else to eat. Well it looked like I’d have to wait a little longer for my lunch.

I eventually made it to a restaurant called O Empalme in O Pino. It was still pretty early in the day, and I realized I was already pretty close to O Pedrouzo. I decided to kill some time.

I ordered spaghetti bolognese for lunch and had a chat with another Ultreia guest, Claudine, from Brazil. While we were talking I saw Debbie again. She and Venita were planning to stop in O Pedrouzo as well.

I sat around for as long as I could without feeling listless before the final stretch into O Pedrouzo.

I got into Albergue Edreira, which had been booked ahead for me. After showering and stretching there really wasn’t much else to do in the albergue. There was no bar and I didn’t see other pilgrims hanging around, so I decided to walk around the town a little bit.

I poked my head in a couple of places before choosing a bar. I sat there for a while writing in my journal, snacking on Oreos, sipping vino tinto, and watching Spanish novelas.

A few hours later I walked down to another restaurant to have dinner.

It felt like a day full of getting somewhere just to wait. The wait was nearly over, as tomorrow would be my last day on the Camino.

I went back to the albergue to get a good night’s sleep before my walk into Santiago. When I got back to my room I realized that in the bunk below me was Mercedes from Barcelona, who had been in my room in Ventas de Narón. It was nice to see another familiar face heading into the last day.