Happy chappy in Sarria

Yes so I shouldn't be here yet but I will get to that, I am afraid that I got the hunger for another long one. I just seem to enjoy these days more, it is a nice challenge and I like arriving late. So I have two days to update you on, I will try and keep it short as I am hungry.

So saturday I did 18.7miles from Villafranca up to O'cebreiro which was a very tough but enjoyable walki. I found it steeper than the Pyrenees to be honest. I really enjoyed the walk, great views and despite walking alongside a road for most the day the views were great. The countryside in Galicia is very much like england, very green and it stinks of sh*t. I passed through some remarkable little villages, places I could imagine living and I felt like I was walking back home, it was great. It is tough to remember all of the details of this walk as it was a day ago and my diary is upstairs. I enjoyed the steep climb, the tactic I prefer is to really attack the climb and to fly up it. This was great fun, jumping over rocks and battling against the climb. My legs felt fine but It was a real challenge for my cardio fitness, I was pouring sweat and out of breath but it felt great. The path led through trees which was lovely but breathing was hard as I was attacked by flies and the stench of the cow sh*t that covered the floor. Not far from the top the presence of all the sh*t was explained as I rounded a corner to see 6 cows being herded down towards me by a man with a stick and a dog. I went back round the corner where it was slightly wider and stood on the edge of the path, I did panic slightly though when the cows came right at me and nearly knocked me off. I find most places now stink of sh*t, especially the smaller villages which are basically just farms. The smell really attacks your nostrils. Finally I got to the top and to O'cebreiro which was a lovely little place but very touristy (just making up words now), it was a small taster of Santiago I felt. The albergue was nice enough, no doors on the shower cubicles and the window gave the people outside a great view into the showers. I felt good afterwards, just stiff bum muscles and stiff back of my thighs. I ate with David, Rose and Nadia which was nice, we had a good laugh. Apparently I don't need to drink to be hilarious. We all agreed that on Saturday we will all meet outside the cathedral in Santiago at 7pm, we don't have to but it gives us a way of meeting if we want to.

So this morning I set off on an empty stomach and in the light of the moon. It was a lovely walk, through creepy dark forrests and along tracks that gave a great view over the mountains. I was walking alone again which was great. I always start off slowly, being overtaken by everyone and then about 9:30 I wake up and pick up the pace, often catching everyone back up. I stopped and got a coffee and some pastries which helped. I don't remember exactly when but at some point I began walking with a girl from Holland, we talked about Tottenham's wonderful talisman from the Netherlands. She was a nice girl and had started in Leon but she had walked it before. We had lunch together at Triacastela 13.2miles which was todays stage but it was only 12pm so I decided to go on, as did Linda (the girl from Holland). We got talking to a guy called John from England, we ended up walking together for some time as we seemed to have a lot in common. He had been travelling for 4 months or something and was a really intelligent guy, very nice too. He stopped for lunch so I waited for Linda and we carried on. I am loving meeting all these new people, it is so unlike me to just speak to people. Even if this confidence is hte only thing I take home to England it will be a great prize. A few km after Triacastela we were terrorised by an idiot on a crossbike, this really shook Linda up as she had been hit by one back in Holland. She had a really bad time of it, barely escaping brain damage and really struggling to return to normality. This left her visibly shaken and I could tell she wasn't happy. I tried to comfort her but it was difficult, I am not a psychologist. She began to walk really slow and as much as I wanted to shoot off I wanted to stay and make sure she was ok. Eventually she said that I should go on so she can sit and 'contemplate' so she can feel better, she is into meditation and holistic therapy etc so maybe this is what she meant. I did as she said and I sped off to Sarria. I had lost about an hour and a half but it was nice to walk with someone new, just a shame it had to end like that. I am sure I will see her along the way, just hope she is ok. My water soon ran out and it was a very hot day, passing through more farmvillages I was unable to find any water and being a Sunday most cafes were closed. I finally found one that was open and drank two bottles of Aquarius (some weird drink Linda was drinking, was quite nice), a coke and a litre and a half of water. I really needed that. I finally reached Sarria after a total of 40km/24.8miles and it felt good. I had to climb about a billion steps to get to the albergue which was fantastic. The albergue is nice, expensive for what is provided though (10euro for very basic facilities but the cooking smells great). I am in a huge bed in a room with a bunk bed sleeping a girl from London and one from America. They are nice.

Tomorrow I will do 13.9miles to Potomarin. I plan to take it easy (I say this every time) and relax. I have left David and Nadia behind but it was the right thing to do. I have learnt not to get too attached to the same people as it becomes too comfortable. I like being on my own and I meet a lot more interesting people this way.

Oh and I ate cabbage soup which was filled with all kinds of vegetables. Go me.