Allison Cowie

Castromayor to Melide / 19 miles

• Waking up inexplicably* damp
• *Realizing I’m now in Galicia where it’s usually raining, misting, or threatening a downpour
• Walking through pre-dawn mist and only discovering I was not alone on the trail when I took a selfie and a fellow hiker showed up behind me in the photo (this could have been rather unsettling but somehow it wasn’t)
• Tomato toast with coffee for breakfast at a cafe also frequented by hunters and their hunting dogs
• Realizing I didn’t eat enough the day before when my energy levels crashed not even an hour after tomato toast and coffee
• Finding a lovely hotel bar that served me tortilla de patata and ColaCao… the Camino provides
• Having the trail (almost) to myself all day. I’m so glad to be staying in smaller towns outside of the typical stages from Sarria so I continue to experience the peace and quiet I’ve cherished throughout the walk
• Finally taking a photo of the chestnuts that have covered the trail for the past 100 kms. Who knew they grew wrapped in a fuzzy green jacket (not me)
• The handful of gummy bears and bottle of Aquarius got me through the afternoon when I was feeling sleepy
• Eating two containers of grocery store carbonara for dinner plus a caesar salad, a protein bar and a chocolate bar… and still feeling hungry