We were woken by an alleluia chorus sung by the Albergue volunteers. Very amusing and,dare I say it, uplifting! the revolting machine sweet coffee was our only nourishment before those boots were back on and we hit the road. There was a familiar pattern beginning to emerge to our early morning departures. Fiona and Jackie chomping at the bit and resembling the horses coming out of their stalls at the National! This morning Anne fell at the first hurdle stopping at the 790 kilometres sign to Santiage de Compostela to unpack her rucksack to check she hadn't left her glasses behind. She was relieved to find her glasses case, re packed and then thought she hadn't checked to see if her glasses were actually in the case! as my mum used to say "it's no fun getting old you know!" it was still dark but the forecast for later in the day was rain and we had a long day ahead. We stopped after about 3 k to have breakfast. An opportunity for more excitement as they had tortilla AND bananas and other fruit! A lovely breakfast and we were able to buy a bocadillo and some bits and pieces in the Supermarket.

It felt a bit easier than the day before but still up and down. There was a good coffee shop on the way where we had coffees and hot chocolate and the boots were able to come off for a while. We agreed to stop for lunch in about an hour but the road was mostly a narrow track and so we had to walk for nearly another 2 hours before we found an ok spot. The black clouds were hovering overhead and conscious of the weather report we didn't hang around too long for lunch. We arrived in Zubrini at around 4. The Canadian woman who looked 25 but was 50 (ggrrrr) has said the night before that we should go to the tourist office and get them to phone ahead to book somewhere in Larasoannes but we were tired and wanted to stop. The tourist office was closed anyway and we soon realised there were no beds in Zubrini. Morale took a skydive but we were sent an angel in the form of a rather attractive Spanish man on a skateboard (with a dubious taste in shirts and bright green trousers) who phoned ahead to Larasoannes and booked us beds. There was also a bed less Elderly French couple and he booked beds for them too although by the look on their faces you would have thought he had condemned them to death! As lovely as this was we did then have to walk another 5.5 k and we were all tired. So some of us had ice cream to ease the pain and we hobbled off and managed to hold it together and walk to Larasoannes! Not a pretty walk by a cement works and the road. We were rewarded by a lovely Albergue with our own room with sturdy pine beds. Bodies and knickers washed, a squirt of Jo Mallone and we headed off to bar and swiftly ordered and drank very large cervesas. Absolute nectar.

Anne's fitbit told us we had done 51,331 steps, 35.83 k and had burned 3300 calories!! The bar did a pilgrim's menu which we enjoyed and met more pilgrims - a Northern Irish man and his sister. He had done the Camino quite a few times like Francis but this was her first time. They were sweet siblings who seemed to enjoy teasing each other relentlessly. Back at the hostel Anne and I stayed up for another drink with our Florida friends David and Jenny, another Irish couple and a very fit and sensible German - what can I say! This Camino is doing nothing to dispell national stereotypes so far. A hot night but we all slept a little and had some time to dream. I can't say what all my roomies were dreaming of but I know pilgrim Jenny's dream would have definitely featured Shed World!