September 11, 2017 Betanzos to Presedo 9.3 miles (15 km on my phone)
I woke up briefly this morning in Betanzos at about 3am hearing something outside of my window. I think that someone was out there in the dark taking in his/her clothing from the line where it was drying. Probably a good idea because it seems to rain a bit each night.
The Pension that I was staying in was kind of interesting. There are several bedrooms with twin beds, a shared bathroom, kitchen and deck where clothes can be hand washed and hung up to dry. The window of my room opened up directly to the deck. Not the ideal room, but it was economical, clean and safe.
I ended up going back to sleep and then waking up a few hours later. It was dark out and I wanted to wait until 8am when the local bar opened so that I could use their wifi. At 8:10am they were not open. Darn!
So I went to the Chocolateria to get more churros. Which was really a hardship!
I started talking to a Germán woman who had left her phone charger at Pontedeume! Her friends had left, but she didn’t want to continue without a charger. The problem? No stores open yet to get another one and she didn’t speak Spanish to get any help. I don’t know what finally happened, but when I left the plan was that she would wait until the “Chinese Store” opened (like a dollar store where I’m from. These seem to always have people of Asian ancestry working there). If she couldn’t find a charger there she would take a taxi to Pontedeume and back to Betanzos. She wanted to walk to Hospital de Bruma after that. I never did see her during my walk to Presedo, but I am curious about how it turned out!
So with that happening, then briefly finding wifi to update my family, then getting somewhat lost as I always do when leaving a town, I was on the road at a very early 9:40am!
There was a bit of a climb at first, but nothing compared to the climb out of Pontedeume!
I felt better about the hill climb after taking the picture below.
There was an opportunity to take a better picture of the view, but I didn’t want to walk back and then have to climb up again 😩😩
After the climb I was on a country road seeing what people plant in their gardens and sometimes going through forests of eucalyptus trees.
What in the world is this?
Can you see the bell peppers?
Long green beans
There is a bus from Betanzos to Presedo if anyone needs it.
Dog Center?
I had good memories of staying in a Rectoral, but this one was in the wrong direction!
Is that Scarecrow a Peregrino?
Below is a picture of two Peregrinos with huge backpacks. One was a woman with pink hair.
I took this next picture right before meeting two Galician women who were picking up the chestnuts that had fallen to the ground. I spoke with them and they told me that these “castañas” are really tasty!
After that was a longish stretch of gravel. Due to my knee I was walking very cautiously so was quickly overtaken by three men from Napoli! Oh yes, I forgot to mention the couple from Houston. The first Americans that I had run into on this Camino.
At this point I started walking a stretch of highway that seemed to go on forever. My very least favorite thing to do. Also it was getting warmer out. Asphalt plus heat isnt good for your feet or your knees.
These old churches are pretty neat.
I think that I saw this bush in Portugal 🇵🇹
Verbena, one of my most favorite plants!
Still on asphalt. When will I arrive?
I think that this is a lantana plant, but I’ve never seen the round things.
I can’t tell you how happy that I was to see the sign below! At this point I was still walking fine; but was ready for the end of the day.
Even happier to see this sign!
And here I am!
There were two Hungarian women already at the albergue. I got a spot on a bottom bunk in the corner to have a bit of privacy. Shortly afterwards 3 young Spaniards came, two were from Madrid and one from Valencia. They had traveled together before. The albergue eventually filled up with a couple from Minnesota, some more Spaniards and someone from Ireland.
After I had rested a bit I went to have a bite to eat before taking my shower.
There’s a place about 1 kilometer away (I found out today that it was just opened about a year ago).
Garbanzos with pork in a tasty broth.
Flan casero (homemade)
I thought that the food was great and that the family who runs it is charming!
After that I went back to the albergue to shower and discovered………..well, I’ll tell you in my next post.
Next day, the hardest stretch goes to Hospital de Bruma.
Rocky Walks 