We got up early on day 3 of walking. The weather looked a bit grim and today we would be walking 12 kilometres.
The very first kilometre we walked down a winding road down a hill, across an old stone bridge and then the uphill began. A dark sandy and tree rooted path lay ahead of us through a tall forest.
I wrapped my plastic poncho around my day pack to keep it dry, while the rain ran down our backs.
Around 2 or 3 kilometres in we happened to stop at an in for a warm drink as we had been walking through sleeting rain and we’re happy to bump into our Aussie friends, Devon and Sybil. From then on I walked with Devon and Jade chatted away madly to Sybil, both quite happy to be conversing with someone different.
Parts of today we walked parallel to a main country road and other times it was all forest walking through tiny sparse villages and the odd cow farm. The main industry out here seems to be farming and on this route, Accomodation for pilgrims walking to Santiago.
We eventually made it to Ventis de Naron. If you blinked you would kiss this little village. It was actually my favourite place that we stayed over on the whole Camino because the little stone buildings, the pub downstairs and the central village green were just so authentic.
I can absolutely imagine this same village 500 years ago, functioning very much the same as it does today. A farm house, a pub for locals to pull in and an Inn for those passing through.
Unfortunately as we found Casa Molar, our accommodation for the night, Devon and Sybil realised that they had actually passed their village 2 kilometres back and now needed to backtrack to where they booked to stay that evening. I felt bad for them.
We quickly settled in, got into warm dry clothes and found a really good coffee and some food. I was shocked to see Croquettes on the menu of this tiny restaurant and couldn’t pass the chance to try them. THEY WERE DELICIOUS!!! Croquette are rolled and deep fried balls of pulled meat that is shredded, mixed with mashed potato and spices and then dipped in egg and crumbs before it is fried. They’re actually a Dutch meal, so I’ve had a few of these growing up with a Dutch dad.
In South Africa we have a saying, “Maagies vol, oggies toe!” Which loosely means “tummy full, eyes closed”. And this was exactly how we felt, time for a nap. I managed to find an English novel in the pub where folk leave things they’re done with, so I picked it up and got reading.
The feeling of absolute freedom and no responsibility was really setting in and I could appreciate it so so much. Back home I would have been mom to two teens, running the household and working full time in a demanding job. But this! This was what my soul had been craving. Freedom and walking and nothing else.
The next day the weather would be fine and what we needed was a good nights sleep.