Over hill and dale

The night with the el Camino pilgrims in Miraz was a savior. The accommodations were Spartan but clean, run by British Catholics it had a new rather than an old Spanish flavor. We headed out early after some weak coffee and bread and jam. The day was cool an overcast with low hanging misty clouds. After about 25 miles and a hearty 2nd breakfast we continued our gradual climb since Santiago. Then a brilliant find by me, of a small, winding, narrow but paved road, that Hannah trusted me to take, brought us down a huge decent to the charming little town of Mondonero.

Note the slate roof and the cool misty weather. Also the vegetation is lush with all of the moisture.  Delphinium grow wild everywhere and are beautiful along with all sorts of lichen, moss, ferns and trees.

After arriving in town at about 2 we rested and explored the small but very, quaint old village and had a fantastic 4 corse traditional mid day per-fix comida (dinner) complete with a local vino tinto. 

Hannah was determined to go on in spite of the preceding days disastrous finish. She desperately wanted to get to the coast. So we headed out for what was expected to be about 25 miles on a main highway again over a pass for the next town. When the main road turned out to be a dangerous heavily travelled road with a marginal shoulder we pulled off to reconsider an alternate route. Our only option seemed to be to bushwhack through several small and confusing local roads. Until I suggested we go back to Mondonero, at which point Hannah almost started to cry with joy at the prospect of a hot shower and a bed. We found a great, charming little pension (hotel) in town and got a room on the 3rd floor overlooking the town square.

A great day with 52 miles.