Sunday 28th June A Coruña to O Milladoiro (Camino de Santiago, Scallop shells all over the place)
Never got to see the game last night, stayed up to 5 mins before kick off at 23:00, just had to go to bed, my little body is tired, thought I would be able to do, but you do what thought did? Not really sure what that means, but my darling Mother used to say it to me years ago, so bound to be a telling off of some sorts! Sure is “a witty, old-fashioned colloquialism used to scold someone who assumed incorrectly or failed to follow through on a task. It implies that thinking about doing something isn’t the same as actually doing” Yep that will be me.

Nice lay in in the morning, breakfast at 8, treating ourselves to a life of luxury, trying to lay in bed for as long as possible, my little legs itching to get going, watch the highlights of the game last night, that’s a wasted 10 minutes, but at least they won. Breakfast is at 8, we are down there around 07:30, few people milling around, so we join, only to be sternly told, by Mother Teresa, that we had not booked an early breakfast so have to wait, I had already gulped down an orange juice so had to sit on the naughty step again. Finally allowed in, to be honest it was not worth the wait, but at least we got a hot cup of coffee and cereals.

Only a short ride planned for today, just under 50 miles, should be a breeze, never is, as we pull these juggernauts of a bike up the early steep climbs, swirling clouds and the threat of rain, made it a chilly start. Always know where we are going, look to the highest point that will be it then, just guiding the bikes up the little country roads, no one about, well it’s a Sunday, either at church or still in bed. Right in the middle of nowhere climbing up a little country lane, massive explosion, mate scared the living daylights out of me, then another one, all together was about six of them, me think oh clay pigeon shooting or something like that, Bingo says they were large flares being let off, for some reason! nothing to do with England winning last night though.

Gradually getting into the days ride, all a bit weird when we start later, good thing it’s not forecast to get hot today, mainly cloud cover with the possibility of rain later. First part of the day is all climbing, a good way to have it, as we bust a gut getting over them, the longest one took a bit of mental strength or thigh power, just tough, then very tough, finally broke through the clouds, with the top in sight, broke the cardinal rule in cycling – stopped at the top, mainly because I had too, searching through my bags for some chocolate, ended up with half a Marathon bar, apple and a handful of jelly-babies, just enough to keep us going. With a little word – stopping at the next place for a coffee.

Sweet, few miles down the road a lovely little place in Ordes “CAFÉ BAR ARMAS” all decked out in Camino de Santiago paraphernalia, I even signed the book, and got a stamp to say we have completed the Canterbury to Santiago Pilgrims walk, well on a bike Hey ho, still done it, all a bit strange as we still had about 24 miles to go till we reached Santiago. Nice little stop, when we came to leave, it was raining hard, put on a few extra layers and off we go.

Last section got a bit busier on the roads, nothing too scary, drivers giving us plenty of room and lots of respect, actually shivering on the bike, possible not going fast enough! Sure enough soon as a little climb came was far to hot, binned the extra layers, just rode through the rain showers, very refreshing. Both of us finally finding some form today, put in a good couple of hours hard work, smashed the ride, never one to give up a Sunday beer pull in around 8 miles outside Santiago, little Tardis place, just a small shack thing from the outside, then a big restaurant / bar in side packed to the rafters with the locals. Couple of well earned refreshments and a plate of tapas (salted cuttle fish) not for me, then the final ride into Santiago.

With me in front, never a good idea when going through a large city, me noticing a load of bikes coming the other way, completely missed the turning, never mind it was the day for the “Santiago de Compostela” sportive ended up going the wrong way through the finish line, with loads of cheers, then past the holy grail for all the Camino de Santiago walkers Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, all worthwhile. We had to walk the bikes through the tight winding streets adjacent to the Cathedral, full of tourist and walkers, all good fun.