Day 70 Santiago de Compostela - Negreira

This morning we both woke up feeling a little bit groggy, looked at each other and said "today we leave no matter what!"  It was a good decision.  14 miles and six and a half hours later we arrived in Negreira with only another 50 miles or so left to go to Finisterre.  It has been an exhausting day, due mainly to our poor physical state following being bedridden for a few days!

At the same time it was great to be walking the grreat outdoors and breathing fresh air again.  As we left Santiago via its great Obradoiro square a troup of horseriders were arriving.  The streets were otherwise deserted.  The first marker we saw informed us that there were 88 kms left for Finisterre!


The path soon took us through parks and leafy suburbs of Santiago.  This became a pattern for the day as we travelled through beautiful woodland and rolling countryside going through numerous villages and hamlets on the way, including the picturesque village of Ponte Maceira.



The village is divided in two parts with a stone bridge straddling the river Tambre.  The bridge is late 15th century but was restored in medieval style in the 18th century.

The day, which had been cloudy to start with, soon became sunny with a light cool breeze, making walking very pleasant.

When we finally arrived in Negreira we were starving as we have not been eating much these past few days.  After lunch we were told that the Albergue was full so we went to find a private one.  After depositing our rucksacks we hightailed it to the nearest bar to watch the England-Germany game.  We are now paying the price as our German friends on the Camino have now started to phone in and the situation is getting QUITE STRESSFUL!  Katrin, we are never speaking to you again!

Right now we are in another bar watching the Argentina - Mexico game and I hope this also is not going to prove too stressful.  Germans I can handle, Ana Maria is a different proposition!

Tomorrow we have a long day which we are trying to split into two easier stages.  At the moment we cannot figure out where we are going to sleep tomorrow night in order to achieve this, but we keep on trying.

A number of you have been in touch tonight wanting to know about my foot.  I have taken the view that the foot will not stop us getting to our destination.  It may take us longer than planned, but we will get there!......but thanks for asking!