16/5 Monday Boente to Salceda 19km
The evening meal was great value and included griddled squid (chipirones) and chips. I ate with Tanya, Stein and their Camino friends Simon and Kaz (just married) and Arvid, from Sweden. Simon was a professional landscape photographer from the UK so Interesting to hear about his work.
I had breakfast with Tanya and Stein and ended up walking with them on and off for the day. However, before setting out my knee support bandage caused hilarity when Tanya noticed that the runkled skin looked like lips when I straightened my leg. She’d soon drawn a face on the bandage to complete the impression!
We stopped at Arzúa, after about 9km, for coffee and as usual I rejected bars until we found a bakery with coffee and fresh croissant. I also took the opportunity to buy bread for lunch.
The Francés was proving less busy than I’d expected and often followed pretty woodland trails. However, soon after Arzúa it was raining moderately and lunch looked like being a hurried and damp affair. Then, at a stream there was a large tarpaulin shelter probably used by the local fishing fraternity. A little early for lunch but I had no hesitation about throwing off my pack and getting lunch organised. Tanya joined me whilst Stein continued.
Tanya contributed red pepper to supplement my bread and walnut cheese spread. The passing pilgrims clearly thought we made quite a picture and either took photos, joked or stopped for a chat. It turned into one of the memorable Camino occasions.
Showers continued so we were happy to stop at a quirky bar that Tanya remembered from her previous Camino. Bar Tia Dolores in Boavista, 3-4km short of our destination pushed the beer they brewed themselves and very good it was too although a little strong for mid-afternoon. The large family dog took a liking to me, was happily stroked but was also keen to gently chew on my arm.
The rain eased and we headed off to our different albergues in Salceda. Mine was quite flash and had private rooms and a proper restaurant but the dorm for 8 was full and as last to arrive I got stuck with a top bunk!