The Spanish Rocky Mountains (Day Three on the Camino)

Oseira to O Castro Dozon ...our third day on the Camino.

The "Chase Car" delivered us to Oseira where we finished yesterday's walk.

Within five minutes we were already going up and up and up some more ...

Our Señors had hinted that today would be an easier day for us ... Señor Guy even told Madame M. that he could walk the Camino with us in his "sandals"!

Ha...

A new thing was added to our trails today in addition to the stones, rocks and boulders we walked through mud and water ... Oh poor Madame M's new walking shoes!

All the rock climbing caused some "hotspots" today and I don't mean Wi-Fi hotspots ...

my poor feet felt a bit hot but I was afraid to take off my socks and shoes for fear of not being able to put them on again ... and then I would have to walk barefoot!

The last stretch into Castro Dozon ... On the highway 

And then it was laundry time...

Go Tell It On The Mountain (Bouzas to Oseira)

Day Two on the Camino ....

Wednesday was the beginning of our "Camino" ... we walked from Ourense to Bouzas, then ending our day at Casa Casarellos.

Thursday morning our Señors drove us to Bouzas to begin our second day.

 

We followed the signs out of the village ... 

These friendly guys said "Buen Camino" as we walked past...

We had checked the elevation map and we were aware that some more climbing would be involved but had no idea how much!

We hadn't walked too far maybe two kilometres when we had the privilege to walk across the Sobreira Medival bridge ... a beautiful sight in the middle of nowhere ...

The terrain was varied from paved roads, dirt lanes, stoney ways and large boulders...

We stopped in Viduedo for a short break ... And then again in Cea, much needed on this hot day!

I believe it wouldn't have taken much to call it quits for the day here ... It was noon already and there was still nine kilometers to go to reach Oseira.

We ventured on!

Do you think that is where we want to be?

Finally we saw the top of the Monastery...

Our support team were waiting for us at a local café ...

After some 17 kilometers of mountain climbing and some difficult terrain in the heat we arrived ...

then a tour of the Monastery ...

An informative 45-minute guided tour of the Monastery of Santa Maria de Oseira ... 

home to 13 monks ranging in age from 25 to 94 years old.

Back to Casa Casarellos to soak our weary bodies and rest before our home cooked dinner later in the evening.

Tomorrow ... Oseira to Castro Dozon.

Buen Camino (Day One of the Camino)

Bright and early this morning we started our walk on "The Way"!

I awoke with some anxiety and nervousness ... Why you may ask?

Driving into Ourense the day before we descended down the mountains on winding roads and over bridges into the Valley ... And you know the saying "what goes down must come back up".

I even thought of asking these guys for a ride in their "Renault Alpine" to get me out of the valley.

Plus the very helpful and friendly agent at the Tourism Office had told us the first part of the walk was difficult ... for four to six kilometers we would be climbing out of the Valley with some very steep inclines.

We had to climb the mountains.

Our first day was planned ...that we would meet our "Chase car" in Tamallancos ... But they weren't there, so we had to add a couple more kilometres to our walking and chase the "Chase Car".

Bouzas.... Final stop for first day...

Before heading to our "Casa" for the next three days we decided to have a late lunch/ early dinner ..

We then headed to our next place of rest ... Casa Casarellos ... 

A great beginning on the way...