Now let’s get up-to-speed (but don’t get used to it—I’m traveling again over the next few days)—yesterday Keith trekked to Palas de Rei and it was kind of a tough day for him with the hills and damp weather. This was compounded with him thinking that maybe he’d packed his backpack wrong and a couple of physical aches and pain (“squishy” knees and a muscle in his back that’s been hurting like a son of a gun especially when he coughs). The rain didn’t bother him much (he is from the Northwest) and his feet stayed dry so that was at least some good news. He said it really reminds him of Washington in October.

While hiking he talked with only a few people. There were two women from Colorado and a another couple (the guy was from Midwestern Canada and his wife from Singapore). He said he listened more than talked with the couple because it was hard to get a word in edgewise as they both were talking at the same time.

Upon arriving at last night’s hotel in Palas de Rei (Complejo La Cabana) he treated himself to a hamburguesa completo (a hamburger with everything) and a beer. He said it hit the spot. The hotel was supposedly designed to look like an alpine chalet. His room had a pair of bunk beds next to his twin one (three beds for his “single” reservation) and that didn’t help evoke the theme. The several cats out hunting in the fields (nice to know they had Keith’s back) weren’t on skis so they didn’t fit the theme either.

Keith hiked from Palas de Rei to Melide today. He had a nice and mostly uneventful day but did make it 15km and got to cross a couple of medievel bridges before arriving in the very narrow streets of Melide. He said that the small delivery vans were barely making it through and the cars were parked only about 8 inches from the buildings. He is staying at a municipal albergue that’s run by the local city government. These municipal albergues are very different from the private ones that he’s been to. It’s kind of like a YMCA with bunk beds. They close the doors at 10 o’clock and you have to be out by 8 AM. Since it’s just been starting to get light at 8–it could be a little painful—especially for an undercaffeinated Keith that isn’t a morning person.

Today he went to a couple of churches and even paid to light a REAL candle (not an electric one :)). He had his card stamped up the road at a another church that he went into. It was kinda cool—the man that greeted him took him to the back office to fill out a visitor form that included his nationality, name, where he started his pilgrimage, etc. They took donations so he gave him all the change he had.

After he got settled in at the albergue he went to the lounge to charge his phone and talked with a nice Irish gentleman. He said he was feeling a little isolated and it was good to sit and visit.

Then when I was talking with him before he headed off to dinner, I heard a man holler over to him, “Hey, how are you doing? Still strong?” And he laughed and responded, “I’m good!” He said it was one of the pilgrims he’s seen from time to time on the Camino. You could hear in his voice how nice it was to be recognized by someone.