Up down,  up down, up down, that was the theme today, and it must have affected my thinking. I took the same approach as yesterday and left very early to miss the 3 day pilgrims, and to walk alone. It was quite warm at 5.15 am when I left, but same issue as before, had trouble seeing the way.

After 5 minutes I stumbled on this cross in the middle of this village ,and hoped that it was a good omen.

I pushed on and didnt see another pilgrim for two hourslots of climbing but as the sun came up I was walking through a Eucalyptus forest on my own and loved it.

the sun warmed the forest quickly and I figured it would be a Hard hot day for 33 k. I stopped for breakfast and checked my book,  I was making good time and might make the night stop in Pedrousa early, so on I pushed. We are going through cattle country now and its a very peaceful feeling, the cows for sure don't give a hoot.

These guys apparently had a rowdy night though, I walked past this pilgrim bar on the Way early this morning

I crossed into a little village and started to wind my way uphill again towards Pedrousa,

I ran into a mother and daughter walking, and chatted for awhile, then someone dropped off a bus load of 3 day pilgrims, right ahead of me, 5 k later, there was the bus waiting to pick them up and take them to lunch.

                                                                       bugger off

The mother said they were having lunch in Pedrousa,then walking another 3.5 k to the next t town for the night, I thought that was a good idea, as I didnt like the town of Pedrousa, so I left them and walked to the next town, that's right, there was no albergue. So I had to rearrange my head and get into walking mode again. I WAS NOT WALKING BACK TO PEDROUSA.

The first thing that comes up is a hill, big hill,and my feet are not in sinc, Frank, the boot on my left foot says " I'm not going up there" ,Nancy on my right foot says, " us boots are made for walking, and that's just what you'll do", Frank says, " do what you want,but I'm going left"and did,,,,,Nancy put her foot down!!!!!!!!!!!!!then says, " you do what you want, but I'm going right"and did, my testicles winced,,this could get really painful.

Anyway, I made the top and headed west, it became apparent that I had screwed myself.

I said OK, to myself, the sun was behind the clouds so it was cooler now, so I mumbled the famous last words of a redneck, WATCH THIS,, and I set of for Santiago de Compostela. 12 hours on the road, and 36 miles later, Leonard and I walked into the city.

Coming over the Mont de Ozo ( the hill of joy) this is the first veiw for pilgrims, of the cathedral in the distance, and they know they have almost made it.

I knew the story of this young lady memorialized here, but if the Camino wants to tell you to live your life to the fullest, and now, it drops little reminders like this that time is everlasting, but can be sometimes very impatient.

walking into a city sometimes brings you back to reality , I need to stop naming my hiking gear, that's silly and it happens on those long days when you have no one to talk to, just ask Leonard.

I am in a Seminary tonight,going to shower, blog, have dinner and sleep. Today was the longest haul of the trip at 36 miles, and I was fine except for the broken toe, its really sore right now.

I have two days rest now, as I made up a day today again, by mistake, I thought coming in today would feel different, but I still have the unfinished job feeling, so I think Finistere on my birthday may be a tough one, I'm ready to walk another 1000 miles, I'm also ready to go home.