Tapia de Casariego KM 206

Just outside Tapia de Casariego

You may be thinking that I may have drowned in the torrential rain we are experiencing here at the moment, but in reality I just haven´t been anywhere near a computer for a few days. In fact, I haven´t hardly been anywhere with a name that appears on a map. And as usual, I have been lost.

The old and the new side by side

After leaving Magdallena, it took me 2.5 hours to find the village I had hoped to stay in the previous night. Its just as well I stopped when I did. I had a cup of coffee there to celebrate finding it and then moved off toward my destination for the day, Cadavedo. The first part of the day passed without incident, but by lunch time, it was lashing with rain again. And I mean LASHING! I was heartened to find a sign on the road with a message for me (see below).

Go Ginny!

Ginny is what my Camino friends from 2008 called me, so I took it as a sign to be brave and keep going, despite the inclment weather. In fact, there were signs such as this for several miles and I was delighted each time I saw one. Eventually I was soaked through my Giant nylon Poncho - next time I will get one of those lightweight water proof jobs, not nylon.

On the way to Cadavedo

By the time I got to the Albergue in Cadavedo, I was a pathetic sight. But I was bouyed (no pun intended) by the reception I got from my fellow peregrinos, who welcomed me with a great cheer. The weather let up long enough for a group of us to visit the mini super market without drowning, where we bought the makings of a fine meal. Joachim from Barcelona whipped it all up, and soon we were enjoying a tasty salad, fresh bread and beer (wine for most of them but beer for me). The Albergue itself was very basic, and could use a good cleaning, but I was happy to be there, out of the rain and in very nice company. There were 8 of us who stayed there; two women from Czech, four Spaniards, including Frederico from Mallorca, an Italian, and me.

As it turns out one of the group actually had left a message for me on a way marker saying "Go Miranda Go", but I did not see it. And they gave me a new name because of my quick walking pace - Turbo Miranda. Still, my pace doesn't seem to get me any further ahead; they were all at the Albergue in Cadavedo well ahead of me... hmm perhaps I should slow down.

A fine meal at the Albergue in Cadavedo

None of my clothing dried over night, so this morning, I put the wet stuff in a plastic bag (its still there) and doned fresh dry clothes for the day ahead. And if the rain the day before was lashing, today it was torrential. Really... I would not have had the courage to walk on my own, but Roberto from Modeno was game to try and reach Piñera with me, so we gave it a go. Piñera is a small village about 31km from Cadavedo. I think the others were betting we wouldn´t make it, but we did. It was one of the situations - you either laugh or cry and I figured there was enough water around so I laughed the day away, thinking of the ridiculousness of the situation. The rain was literally coming at us sideways with the wind behind it. Each big truck that passed gave us a shower from another direction. Rivers were swollen to overflowing and I began to have concerns about flash floods, but really, what can you do except find a little tune to sing and keep going going. Many songs about rain went through my mind, songs I thought I had forgotten... raindrops keep falling on my head....

Luarca

We arrived at the Albergue, an old schoolhouse, around 3:30 pm. There was one other person there - a young german man. Eventually, two others arrived, also, german, and the clotheslines strung around the dormitory made it look like a little shanty town. I had a great sleep and felt preapared for anything this morning.

By end of day today, the weather was not quite as bad; the rain actually let up for a few minutes here and there. The interesting thing about the rain is that my feet are enjoying it immensely. They have been perfectly happy, sloshing about in the cool water that has invaded my shoes. Who would have guessed? I hope to be able to dry some clothing tonight. I believe the Albergue here has an oven so you can guess I´m going to try and be creative with that. Wish me luck drying and not burning, my clothes!