2/5 Monday Paládin to Cornellana
27km
Last night Michael and I were joined by Steffie, from Germany and Amanda, from Brisbane, for the evening meal. Everyone seems to need a break from difficult work circumstances!

Last night someone’s snoring was so bad I even resorted to earplugs. They helped a little. In the morning everybody was moving around so I got up too. We were all ready to leave before breakfast time at the Albergue so we headed off towards Gardo, which was a small town, where we knew we would find cafés and breakfast.

Myself, Steffie and the Spanish group all left at the same time but Steffie and I were a little quicker so we walked on to Grado together in the drizzle. At Grado I rejected the first three cafés because I could see the cake wrapped in plastic.

Just then an old Spanish guy asked me if I was walking the Camino and told me the next Café was the best food. He was right, it was a Panadería with fresh bread, fresh cakes, fresh everything. Coffee, toast and fruit juice was only €3 - fantastic value.

I left Steffie to do some shopping but was soon walking with the Spanish group and chatting to them a little as we climbed out of Grado gaining about 1000 feet in height and then all the way down again into the next valley to El Friesnu!

Walking on the woodland, path next to a stream, I saw the perfect spot for lunch so sat down to make a sandwich. Soon the Spanish group passed me by and stopped to take photos. Next came a big surprise. Who should be walking along the path but Heike who I knew from a couple of weeks ago. It was good to see her again. She’d had a lot of problems with tendonitis in her leg and had been delayed here and there with medical treatment and the need for rest. Even so, I was surprised to see her behind me as I thought she was still ahead somewhere.

We continued together, stopping to warm up with a coffee at Cá Pacita in Doriga. Then relatively flat all the way to our Albergue at Cornellana which is within the walls of the old monastery here.

No food on offer and the local supermarket is closed for a Spanish holiday so it will be out to a bar for a quick meal after 8pm.