Ribadeo: Monday September 29

 

September 29 was a really good walking day. It was misty and cool. I met a man from Leeds, in England, who walks a lot and usually walks very fast. He graciously slowed down to walk and talk with me for about an hour and we went 5.5 km. This wasn’t fast for him, but was flying for me. He walked 50 km one day- like 30 miles- but usually does around 40km. I won’t see someone like that again. His name was Andy and he took a picture for me, before he took off as we approached Ribadeo.

I ran into the Malaysian group again. Thomas said they didn’t have that evening’s mass location yet, but he would let me know where it was going to be.

As I approached the river there were a few more pretty beaches again. I was looking forward to crossing the river over the bridge, which is 600 meters across. My guide book says that some people who are afraid of heights take a bus.

Here’s one of the last beaches on the Northern Way.

A selfie on the bridge. It took a long time to cross.

My albergue had a beautiful overgrown garden with lots of fig trees dropping figs everywhere, and this little old shed, that I thought might be a dovecote.

That afternoon I got a text and directions from Thomas Yap. The mass was in a convent of cloistered sisters. Their pastor is delightful, a really good preacher. After mass they invited me to supper, and then we all went out for ice cream. Some of them have come on several Caminos and for others this is their first one. They’re a really fun group. They’re walking further than I am. So I probably won’t get to see them again.