Wednesday, 16 May Santiago to Villalba

DISTANCE: 101.7 k/63.2 mi; TIME: 6h 2m; AV: 16.8 kph/10.4 mph; ODO: 2298.2 k

I was up before 7 am to pack my panniers, have breakfast and be on the road before 9 am. I walked the bike out of the city by the road on which I had arrived. I chose to use the N634 and not go to Sobrado dos Monxes. The weather was drizzly with very low cloud. It was much the same all the way to Guitiriz, where I stopped for a lunch. The waitress took me into the kitchen to show me what was cooking!

Just before I left, a couple of men came in, father and son. The son spoke good English and goes to America on business. He asked me about my pilgrimage, both going and returning. His father asked me, via his son, if I was going to Oviedo and did I have enough gears for the steep mountain pass of La Espina. Fortunately my plan was to go via Pravia which is less steep.

I continued on to Baamonde and then took the road to Villalba. On entering the town I had to push up the hill; it was very steep. After a quick circle of the town centre I spotted the “Hotel Venezuela.” My bike was to stay in the foyer. Surprisingly my shoes were not as wet as I expected, but the bike is filthy! It rained and drizzled, on and off, for most of the day.

I phoned Jenny first then tried to find the cafe that the Señor recommended. There were no other restaurants in the town. Eventually I tried the “Cafetería Nexus,” as it was the only possibility. They did Platas Combinados; some odd combinations, but better than nothing.

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