I woke up to a rainy day this morning, but as I had a short day planned, I was in no hurry to leave. The weather report said that it would clear early in the morning and it was right!

Today is the closest thing I’ve had to a rest day since I started walking almost a month ago with just 12km to cover.

The man at the hotel this morning went to the trouble of drawing me a map of the day’s walk. I think he was pleased that I paid in cash as he didn’t have to give me a receipt .

People have been so friendly along this route. I’ve had endless locals wish me ” ¡Buen camino! “. On many occasions I’ve had the path pointed out to me when it was unclear or I’d made a mistake. On one occasion, a bus driver beeped his horn and pointed the way to me!

Not long after leaving this morning I came across a box of home grown grapes put out for pilgrims.

Most of today’s walk was on asphalt again. I’m looking forward to a bit more bush track next week as the camino heads inland.

With the rain, it was a good day for snails. This little fellow is a symbol for me of the Camino. You wouldn’t notice this sort of thing if you weren’t walking and the snail is the epitome of ‘slow travel’.

Today I’ll be crossing the border from the region of Asturias into Galicia.

The horrios, or elevated grain stores, have already changed from the little house- like structures I’ve shown you in previous posts, into the elongated shape common in Galicia.

The houses around here reflect the harsh climate along the sea coast.

I wonder what came first, the sign or the wall?

The way led back to the sea for the last time.

Perhaps it was the time of day, but today I only saw two other pilgrims, having a rest by the ocean.

Traditionally, pilgrims usually walked a bit further inland here as crossing the river was difficult at this point. Nowadays there’s a bridge.

I arrived in Ribadeo before check in time so it was off to a crowded little restaurant

for a fish lunch.

I passed this impressive building, built as a private residence in 1914 and designed by a student of Gaudí.

Then in was check-in, shower, laundry, and a 2 hour nap. What bliss!

It was a bit late when I ventured out in search of some things for a picnic lunch tomorrow, as I’m passing through remote countryside. Luckily I found this man in his speciality shop who fixed me up.

Tomorrow it’s also farewell to the sea as the Camino heads inland across Galicia to Santiago.