Portomarin to Palas de Rei Phew, what a wet day! Fifteen miles in pouring rain, some of it really heavy, has led me to Palas de Rei which is now only three days away from Santiago de Compostela, which I hope to reach on Tuesday afternoon. Most albergues have good washing and laundry facilities which are much needed today as I get out of soaking clothes and boots. There is something very satisfying about having freshly washed and aired clothes to put on for the following day. Exactly 800 years ago in 1214, St Francis of Assisi completed his own Camino pilgrimage and so this year they are issuing a special certificate for pilgrims who undertake the Camino in 2014. The Camino has ebbed and flowed over the centuries in terms of its popularity. Thirty years ago, less than a thousand pilgrims were recorded as walking the routes and today there are now tens of thousands. Tonight I had a really enjoyable meal of the local delicacy, octopus - I am a real sucker for this food- with Margita, Dave, a great guy from Scarborough and Jim, a larger than life character from Sydney.