Pontevedra is a wonderful town. Lovely pedestrian only streets. A few big squares. Some classic architecture. If we were taking a rest day, this would be a good place for it.

We didn’t intend to, but we took our time today. It took us 7 hours to cover about 15 miles. We found a great place for breakfast and enjoyed an hour sitting there. We also took a poorly marked route by the ocean, and it slowed us down as we figured out where to go. Then we stopped a couple other times for drinks and potty breaks. Even so it was another great day. The last week has provided consistently beautiful hikes.

Did you pack the right stuff this year?

I’m pretty good at packing now that I’ve done three of these Caminos. The only things I haven’t used are some rain socks (that my friends said wouldn’t work anyway), a pair of pants, and some medications.

How are you feeling as you approach the end of this Camino?

Physically, everything is great. Feet, legs, back and stomach are all in excellent shape. Knock on wood.

Mentally, I’m strong. No boredom or burnout. I’m having so much fun that the time is going quickly. The walking has been easy and all of us are in the rhythm of the Camino and enjoying every day.

Only four days of walking left. I’ll be happy to finish, but I’ll be sad too. Mixed emotions for sure.

How is the rookie pilgrim (Rory) doing?

He loves the Camino. He’s a long distance runner, and the walking has been pretty easy for him. He loves the slow-tourism aspect of the Camino and meeting so many people. He’ll definitely be back on the Camino again in the future, but he doesn’t retire for a while, so his options will be limited. Poor working stiff.