17 September 2023
Rodeiro to Lalin - 23 kms
Today's walk was very straightforward, mostly on tracks or narrow country roads with short stages on more major roads. It was through farmland and past, or through, small farming communities, and unlike other days, there were no major ascents or descents, just constant undulations.
What did make today more of a challenge was that, apart from an hour or so, it rained heavily, and we had high wind all day, with strong gusts every now and then which must have made us look like a couple of drunks weaving our way along.
The paths between farm buildings were awash with cowmuck, reminiscent of the muck drain on the farm at Roto-o-Rangi, and smelt like a cross between poorly cleaned piggeries and ripe silage.
I was thankful to be walking though as I tripped on uneven pavement when leaving our accommodation this morning and, with the weight of my pack, I landed heavily on my left knee and my forehead. I have a couple of bruises but it could have been a lot worse, especially if I had landed on my glasses.
Because of the rain, we didn't have any stops all day. Also we wanted to get to the pilgrim support shop un Lalin before 2pm when it closed for the afternoon. We hadn't been able to get any of the required stamps for our creditentials as we didn't pass through any villages where we may have been able to get one. I knew that Daniel, the who mans the pilgrim shop, gave stamps. We arrived in Lalin twenty past two and found the shop still open with Daniel busy stamping credentials for other pilgrims.
The photos have uploaded in reverse order once again - scroll up from the bottom.
The finished stamps.
Such a lovely man.
We had be wary walking beneath trees as all sorts of debris were flying about, from leaves and twigs to pieces of branches.
