CF Day 7: Coto > O Outeiro
Somoza last night was great. Maria, the person that handles everything up front, got a real kick out of someone named Paco coming from the United States. We had some laughs via WhatsApp, and then some fun when Suzanne and I showed up and I explained the Paco Origen story to her.
She couldn’t have been more helpful with everything from changing our room to a nicer room, reducing the rate to a double rate from a triple rate because we had had a triple room, to finding us a place to hang our laundry in the sun to be sure it would dry (and then throwing my damp socks into the commercial dryer for 10 minutes to finish them off
Once we got that stuff done we went out to the beautiful gardens and did crosswords and then did the usual of Suzanne beating me at cards.
Next came dinner, and one of the comments Somoza was that this was some of the best food on the Camino. I don’t know about best, but it was excellent. And, again the entire staff was fun and really friendly.
Earlier in the day, Suzanne had talked about hoping to see people doing the Camino on horseback. Wouldn’t you know it? There was a group staying at Somoza that was doing just that. So, we had some fun talking with them about their experience and hoped that we would get to see them today out on the trail. Unfortunately, we just missed them before they came in to Arzua where we came across the horse trailer.
Anyway, we sat off on our longest day yet at 29K. The morning moved along, particularly after we met up with a young guy from the UK who we chatted with for at least 6 or 7K. Time always flies when that happens and you’re having a good conversation.
We stopped in Ribadiso at the restaurant where we ate in 2018, and it was quite good - especially when we added some of the leftover cheese from yesterday.
After that, we faced the climb up and out of Ribadiso which was harder than we both remembered, including me, even though I did it just last year!
We had a long afternoon ahead of us but fortunately came across another peregrina to chat with. This was another Suzanne from Australia who was much slower than us, but that turned out to be perfect because it was so much easier on the feet and we had another interesting talk.
We stopped in at Heidi’s place to say hello, even though she was completo. It was nice to see her again, and I’m sure in the future will be staying there, she is so sweet! When I was there last year, there was a guy who has walked many Caminos and this is the only place that he reserves.
Just before O Outeiro there is a shrine on the Camino along a mossy wall and below some trees - can anyone explain its origins?
Finished the day at Pensión Mirador, which seems clean and nice enough (and available!). It’s a walk to get dinner, but we’ll be recovered from a long day by then.
Tomorrow we walk into Santiago on my birthday. Should be a great, though looooong day!
View my hike: CF Day 7: Coto > O Outeiro