Day Seven - Palas de Rei - Arzua

It certainly has been one of those days!  I have just written up the whole of day seven and lost it!!  Grrrrrr!  Here goes 

again!

Not an easy day from the outset !   We enjoyed a reasonable night, and set off quite early as we had heard the temperatures were going to soar today!   About fifteen minutes into our walk, 

David discovered the hotel key in his 

pocket, so he had to go all the way back and we waited!   Back on track, we walked through beautiful woods with streams and stepping stones, glad of the green canopy to shield us from the cloudless blue sky and the intense heat!   A loo stop proved to be frustrating, and put me in a bad mood!  :(   I found I 

was not only locked into the toilet area, but also the bar!  The owner seemed surprised to see me trying to get out!  And he jabbered on in Spanish as he unlocked three doors, and allowed my freedom!   I'm afraid I ranted at David!  poor bloke!!  Once again we were on 

the Camino trail following the yellow arrows, and beginning to recognise many of the fellow walkers/ pilgrims, and as always lots of 'buen camino' salutations,were exchanged.  We stopped for lunch at another bar along the way!  Delicious Spanish omelet and 

amazing salad!  Refreshed once again we hauled on our day rucksacks and joined the Camino.   I am so glad I have two sticks to aid my walking!  I love them, and I'm sure I wouldn't be able to do this walk without them.

During our walk today, we visited two little wayside churches, and met a young man who was selling his t shirts and stamping our peregrino passports by a pretty river with a stone slab type bridge, it appears he was at the special Olympics last year and won a bronze for throwing the javelin.

Today as the heat intensified and there were so many ascents and descents, we found the walk very challenging and hard going.  Punishing even.  Our legs and hips ached.  We carry our water in camel packs, and soon that was drained!  Another drink stop we discovered a couple from East Leake a village nearby to where we live!  It was nice to chat to someone in English!

We had expected our walk today to be around seventeen and a half miles, but instead it was 20.24!   The last part 

especially challenging as we had to climb a very steep ascent into the village of Arzua to find our hotel!  We eventually arrived absolutely exhausted.  I was so looking forward to a long soak in the bath.  Sadly the bath was not to be, as there were only en suite showers  :(. I could easily have slumped onto the bed!  But instead, showered and changed, we all walked into the little town, and sat in the square in the sunshine a ordered our tea!  I had egg and chips and David had a pizza.  We were glad to find a pharmacy open, and so we were able to get Olive some relief and healing ointments for the blister that has appeared under one of her toenails!  :/

Back at the hotel, we sat in reception and had a drink before bed!  I ordered a hot chocolate.   A cup of hot milk arrived with a huge sachet of hot chocoate. David's attempt to mix the hot chocoate was only partly successful as came be seen from a photo that Olive kindly (ahem) took!  A challenging day in many respects, but we made it!  And before turning in we also ended up having a laugh together! 

Below is Olive's photo!

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