Camino Invierno - Day 15

19 October 2023

Silleda to Ponte Ulla - 21 kms

We set off in a storm this morning. Last night and in the early hours of this morning we listened to the wind howling and the rain beating against our windows of our third storey accommodation, and the forecast was for today was for very heavy rain. 

We pulled out all our wet weather gear for the first time - rain jacket and rain pants as well as our ponchos - ready for what we had to step out into. And it was stormy when we set off from Silleda. 

We left half an hour or so later than we usually do but, even so, it was darker than other mornings and the rain was heavy. 

We saw several other pilgrims struggling along in the storm wearing various rain gear - one chap had a small raincoat over his backpack, another raincoat that he tried to wear on his front but it kept slipping off his arms while he struggled with a very broken umbrella which kept turning inside out in the wind. 

As we walked though, the rain started to ease and after three hours or so it more or less stopped. At one stage the sun even made a brief appearance.  

There was only one town on today's route, about a third of the way into the walk - Bandeira - where we stopped at a pasteleria and had a hot drink and a tasty treat. 

We walked through farming areas for the first part of the walk then through stands of trees - many of them eucalyptus trees.

Altogether we dropped about 400 metres in elevation in spite of having a few climbs. The last 2 or 3 kilometres descended very steeply down to Ponte Ulla and our knees and feet certainly felt it. 

There's only one place open for meals in Ponte Ulla and that shut at 5 pm so we more or less went straight there and had a good meal, then we did a bit of a supermarket shop so we have some things to nibble on later, as well as something to eat before setting off tomorrow. 

We're not far from Santiago de Compostela now - about 21 kilometres - and we're going to break that into two short days. 

It's hard to believe that we have nearly completed our three chemin/camino routes. 

I couldn't take any photos during the very heavy rain.

The wet stones made walking quite hazardous at times. 

Taking shelter for a while. 

This underpass had scallop shells and Cruz de Santiago - St James crosses - along both sides but, sadly, they all had graffiti.

No pilgrims sat and lingered today - all had heads down walking as fast as they could. 

This tree was like a creature in the woods. 

Me looking very weighted down. 

A small settlement we walked through. 

Tree felling was being carried out with the logs being stacked on the road side - quite small logs. 

We are so blinkered when we have our hoods up - it's so good when the rain ceases as we can see properly again. 

The hydrangeas along the way have been very beautiful...

...as have the dahlias and roses. 

On our way down to Ponte Ulla. 

The bridge at Ponte Ulla.

The bridge into 'town' - Ponte Ulla is a small settlement but does have one cafe/bar and a supermarket. 

The rio Ulla. 

Jeff crossing the bridge. 

Camino art on a underpass in Ponte Ulla.