Stage 4: And we get outta town on the Camino … Adios Pontevedra and we’re back in the country.
In truth, we’ve never really stopped walking, that’s Big Brother and me, as Pontevedra is known as the Pedestrian City.
Now because of my notorious sense of misdirection I double back on myself.
Around the big tree roundabout near our billet, the Galicia Palace, until I get on the main drag.
Shelling out
I am headed for the noted Church of the Pilgrim Virgin and its floor plan in the shape of a scallop shell in honour of the symbol of the Camino.
I bless myself with the holy water from the mollusc shaped fount.
And beseech Him for guidance for the last 60kms of our Camino Portugues from the Portuguese/Spanish border.
And I throw some on the floor for those on fire below.
We break bread off the Praza da Peregrina and wrestle with barcodes to get our menu.
Before pointing out impatiently that the next table has a paper one, only to be told they are children and it’s colouring-in paper.
The only Way
I am now reunited with brother Ed after he had gone walkabout on our route in from O Porriño.
But I will not lose sight of him again, particularly as today’s leg is a 22km trek into Caldas de Reis.
And nor will I stop meeting new peregrinos pals and pussies, and greeting old ones.
Like American dad and lad Jim and Jamie and Aussies Alan and Peter.
It is the Camino and it is the only Way.
At a crossroads
Dutch Ria does her best to separate us when she flags up the beauty of the left fork in the road which some are taking.
Until an experienced peregrino asks how long extra that might take and smilingly she tells us three days.
Which would double our journey.
Who knows what the next, our last three days before we reach Santiago de Compostella.
But as the sign says God loves you.
MEET YOU ON THE ROAD
