Our walk to Santiago began very early on a Friday morning. This would be our fourth long distance walk together but our first venture abroad. The group is made up of Paul, Steve, Tim, Jim, Tina and myself. We had to leave the airport hotel at 3.45am to make sure we didn't miss the flight to Santiago. We booked the accommodation for this trip over a year ago and then had to wait until the flights were released a few months later before being able to book them so we made sure we weren't going to miss the flight. However, due to a problem with some control or other we couldn't take off on time. It took a couple of hours for it to be fixed but the boys didn't waste any time catching up on missed sleep.
Our walk began in Ferrol, the starting point for the English route to Santiago. The town is situated at the end of the tidal river. It would have been a small fishing village when the pilgrims arrived here by boat from England. Now it is home to one of the largest naval bases in the area. It is also the birthplace of the dictator General Franco.
There were a number of old narrow lanes throughout the town with a number of bars and cafes.
We wandered down past the palm trees to the marina.
It is from here that the walk begins. Across the road is the office for El Camino and it was here we received our first stamp in our
credencial (pilgrim passport). We have to have at least two stamps per day from different towns or villages to qualify for the Compostela.
These are the signs we will be looking for as we walk towards Santiago.
This shows the way we will be walking in the morning when we leave Ferrol.
We had our photo taken outside the office of El Camino before the heavens opened and we got absolutely soaked. We decided to go back to the hotel for a drink and get dried but unfortunately the bar was closed. Instead we bought some bread, cheese and wine from a local supermarket and had an impromptu meal in Paul and Steve's room.
A group of musicians began playing in the street below but it was so wet they didn't stay long. Tomorrow we start our walk and hope the rain will have stopped by then!
Oh, I so much look forward to sharing this adventure with you. I have several friends who have done all or part of the Camino. Hope the rain stopped for you! :-)
ReplyDeleteQuite a drenched start to the journey!
ReplyDeleteWhen I read "drenched" I thought that was your first day out. Glad to know that it wasn't. Looks like you will experience more town walks than in previous trips together.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the weather going to be for your long walk? Is it Summer there? I'd hate to be walking around here for long distances in our summers.... Good Luck. I will be with you through the entire journey!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI laughed at all of the men sleeping!!!!!! ha
Hugs,
Betsy
When I hear somebody is going to fly nowadays, it is always trouble with departures, it is not a joy anymore! Hope the weather improved during the walk. Looking forward to your posts.
ReplyDeleteSo looking forward to your journey. It must be so exciting. Had to laugh at the guys catching some ZZZs.
ReplyDeleteI love those impromptu dinners in a hotel room. We had one in Bowral recently.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you didn't get drenched before you started and that your actual first day was better weather!
ReplyDeleteI love the photo of the guys all snoring away on the plane! I hope this is the last rain you see before you reach Santiago.
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