Doug and Dave walk the Camino de Santiago
Day 13, Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Ribadiso -to- Arca do Pino
Distance travelled today: 22.2 km, 13.8 mi 
Total distance walked: 250.4 km, 155.6 mi Distance to Santiago: 20.6 km, 12.8 mi
Some sights along the way to Calle, passing through Arzua and
out into the farmland.
We had to share the Camino with livestock. Hmmmm, maybe I should say,
we had to YIELD the Camino TO livestock!
The pilgrim cyclists know when to get out of the way. This herd was tended
by a very nice, friendly farmer, shown on the right.
We stopped for lunch in Calle. We walked almost the first 10 km this
morning with our good friend Willy (Dublin, Ireland). Willy was
on his fourth Camino pilgrimage and is loved by all for his
good wit and kindness.
The excitement mounts as we pass the marker showing that we are only
30 km (18 miles) from Santiago! The funky blue arrow is the symbol
for those walking BACK from Santiago. Since they cannot always spot
the yellow arrows, the blue arrows are often on the reverse side.
Around Salceda, we came across a beautiful house that was surrounded
by wisteria, calla lillies and palm trees. The yard inside the fence
was gorgeous. This was a real photo op, hence all the photos...
These are progressive images as Dave moved closer to the fence.
More of the same...
Just past the fence was a lovely hillside planted by the owner of the house.
Just beyond Salceda is this melancholy monument to a fellow pilgrim,
Guillermo Watt, who died at this spot only a day away from
his last earth destination, Santiago. Reminds us how blessed we are!
On the left is the Camino symbol used for bicyclists. Walkers and cyclists
often shared the same route when suitable for bicycles. On the right,
Doug ponders our options past Salceda towards Santa Irene.
We take a rest stop before continuing through a dense eucalyptus woods that
covers the Alto de Santa Irene.
Excitement mounts as we reach the 20 km (12.4 mi) marker!
Santiago, here we come!
[photo courtesy of Marion, my pulpolina]
Marion and Dave checking the dryer at the albergue in Arco.
We found a washer and dryer and combined loads among 4-5 pilgrims,
pooled our euros, and enjoyed the luxury of clean & dry clothes.
Sure beats washing by hand and waiting for clothes to dry!
That evening, in the alberge at Arca do Pino (Pedrouzo), we gathered for
a dinner that included many of the group we had been spending the last
few days with along the Camino. By this time, the Camino was more
about friends than the actual walking. On left, from left-to-right around
table; Kenny (USA), Marion (Germany), Angelika (Germany), Will (USA),
Annemarie (Germany), Annie (Germany), Willy (Ireland), Dave (USA),
Rolf (Germany), Daniel (Germany), Dominik (Germany).
Thanks to Angelika for supplying lost names!
On the right, clockwise around table, Rolf, Daniel, Dominik,
Angelika, Doug, Will, Annemarie.
On the left, Kenny, Marion and Angelika, on the right Marion and Willy.
Angelika, our angel. Is she sneezing, singing or what?
Marion, our little pulpolina, kept us happy with her humor and laughs.
Dave and Willy on the left. Daniel, Dominik, Cecilia in the right photo.
We got everyone's birthday month and discovered a majority were born
in May! A quick map of the USA was used to show where the four of us
from the USA lived with respect to each other.
Later in the evening, back at the albergue, the younger set spent some
of the late hours visiting and enjoying wine. Dave, a bit older, had
to go upstairs to catch up on his sleep before the party was over.
Rolf is talking with Nate, a pilgrim cyclist from San Francisco.
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