Portomarin > Palas de Rei > Arzua

We get a very late start, bedtime was after midnight, and we have to clean the cowpie/sand slurry off the derailleurs, brakes, wheels, etc. We finally have a no-rain day, however...29km to a town on a hill, Palas de Rei. LOTS of walkers now, all you have to do is walk 100km for your compostela, a lot of wussie types fly into Santiago, taxi out to the 100km point, and walk in...it might be a coincidence, but we've seen many more Americans since we past that point. Now we are in an internet cafe in Arzua, checking email, sucking down Galician beers, and watching a Bond movie...en espanol. Today was a 31km day, up and down hills, the downs are fuuuuuun! Uphill sucks....I usually walk them. Brian got a nice nail, 3 holes, and on a downhill, so he broke a spoke by the time he could stop...he was right on my ass on that downhill, my luck holds again.
Galicia is gorgeous, greens of every possible combination...Dad says no more cowpie trails, so they are now burro-pies..shhhhh. Great dinner, same bar...an Australian woman joins us, we passed her (briefly) on the trail, and ended up in the same places. It is amazing how well we keep up with the walkers..some unique Russell trait...it was the same last year.
Today is Toms 13th birthday, tomorrow we arrive, St. James willing, in Santiago, 38km away. It has been a trial, and a trail, of enlightenment. Most photos today were with the Canon, so I'll have to steal Brian's computer away to resize a few for you, but here is a Galician uphill. Thanks for enduring this with us.. David