Day 7: to Pontevedra

Again, that is, this time on foot. The same taxi with the friendly woman driver picked me up at the hotel, where I had been booked in for 2 days, and drove me south to Arcade to resume where I had left off the previous afternoon.

I had to walk only 12 km this day so I was very relaxed. I even stopped to have a coffee and a pastry on the way out of town. I met this furry friend on the path.

A rest pool, unfortunately out of use and covered in algae.

Soon I reached the Verdugo River and its road crossing.

But the foot crossing over the Ponte Medieval de Pontesampaio was far more picturesque.

A better view.

The plaque. This area is where the Spanish fought and won the Battle of Sampaio against the French in 1809, driving them out of Galicia.

You can see that we had to share it with the occasional vehicle.

The view upstream.

Swallow your envy, boring bridge users!

Midway to Pontevedra, the route used a recently constructed road.

Follow the one, er two, true paths. 😸

I'm glad I opted for the the path that went through the woods because we walked past cool streams like this.

About lunch time I emerged near Pontevedra's railway station which was quite close to my hotel. I spent most of the afternoon enjoying a siesta.

In the evening I walked to the old city of Pontevedra.

It's an attractive city and I had been here before, in 2009. It was here that I became aware of the Portuguese Camino. The main Camino Frances is the most well known, but the beginning of that is scary. If you start from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, you have to climb to 1000 m to reach Roncesvalles. It also takes about 40 days. For a beginner like me, 10 days is much more achievable.

The light at this time of day is kind to old buildings.

The contrast between the purple sky and the yellow lamplight is lovely. It's my favourite time of day, particularly if it's cooling down from a warm day.

Another umbrella street.

Diners enjoying the evening air and meal.

A colourfully lit fountain.

I was a bit sorry to leave Pontevedra. I had become a bit cozy in my hotel room with a two-night stay. But my walk was two-thirds through and the goal beckoned.