Day 35 24 June from Portos to Castenada Casa Milia about 28 km

The map in the Paso del Formigas Casa, pilgrims writing their names next to where they have come from...amazing that people from all over are attracted to this pilgrimage more and more..

It's a crisp misty morning when we set off...Rob riding off into the mist in his bright turquoise wind jacket..

We've already done 5 kms..countdown now.. 66 km to Santiago..

We ride along Lovely woodland paths with the peregrinos..

We ride through old stone villages, each has a cross at the beginning of the village..

The path crosses the main roads often..

After 8 km we stop for breakfast...

A lovely ride through eucalyptus and oak Forrests - strong smells of eucalyptus ...this road easy to ride on..

Bob and Joanne from Canada- bob broke his ankle 4 days before leaving, but high doses of pain killers keep him on the road, with copious amounts of wine at day end.. Me struggling up behind them.. It's not easy going uphill on the bikes, remember we have around 10 kg i

Behind us..

Old oak Forrest..

Delightful Albergue and bar but too close to our starting point to stop...st Xuilian ( st Julian)

Over the bridge to Paleis de Rei..

Another little village - I love the colors of  the doors and there is the yellow arrow..

This road steeper and steeper downhill wa s a difficult ride...lots of pressure on the wrists as we ride with back and front brakes on, concentrating fiercely to stay on...

Over this medieval bridge into Furelos

Beautiful gothic facade of Romanesque  Church of San Pedro..

14 C cross with two faces of Jesus, reputed to be the oldest in Galicia

Day 34 23 June from Vilacha, Casa Banderas to Portos, Pasa de Formiga (Passage of ants)

Leaving the Casa Banderas this morning.. House of Flags...Gordon left SA in 2005 to start this Albergue... Wonderful Albergue ..

My birthday breakfast - Gordon has lit candles for me...and we meet a young Mexican couple..

Then we can't move...we have to wait...

It's a misty morning as we ride through the countryside..

Looking back over the first village...still misty..

We ride past many farms...

Signage as we get to the bridge at Portomarin... Just in case we are in danger of not knowing the way...

Rob ahead of me on the bridge to Portomarin...

The shell on the bridge post...

The famous steps into Portomarin...

Side view as we ride under the steps..

Another ride uphill...

All kinds of families are on the way... Father helping his son up the hill...

Then they get to the bar, and the son whips out his iPad to play games !

Looking back over the last village..

We get to the Albergue Pasa le Formiga, meaning passage of Ants... There are huge iron ants in the garden...

Peregrino menu ...with Mexican couple and Canadian couple

Delicious couscous

And salad...

Hope it's not going to rain tomorrow .. It's rained hard this afternoon just after we arrived....

Day 33 22 June from Sarria to Vilacha as Cortes

We wake up this morning to see the street rescued!  Beautiful petalled medallion..

The red sand is gone but  petals in various shapes adorn the green cypress leaves..

View from the top looking down the street...

The cross this morning with early morning mist over Sarria...

We stop at Monasteria Magdalena, one of the nicest churches...beautiful feeling of reverence in the church..

Many icons of Mary in the church..

The cloister...

And we're on the road again... With all the new pilgrims that have arrived.  To get a Compostela you have to have walked the last 100 km , so Sarria is a huge starting point...

We cross over the bridge, the yellow arrow back again clearly marking the way...

One hamlet/ village is just a couple Kilometres from the next... They seem to almost merge...

The 100 km sign...to Santiago..!

Beautiful streams..

I love the markings - even an arrow on a log... 

Wonderful shaded woodland paths, with groves of oak and chestnut Trees

But a little tough to ride... Very uneven surfaces...

Even in the little villages there is a shop / Tienda 

We stop for brunch at Morgade...lots of pilgrims stopping for coffee/ bocadillas..

Delightful indoor area ..

I talk to a couple from Barcelona who are walking with their 9 month daughter..how cute is she..

And there they come...

Forrest path..

Fields with wild foxgloves everywhere..

A pilgrims cross with a variety of decorations...and abandonments..

Pilgrim shrines

Galicia is known for its lushness..

Look at this wall...

We have booked into an Albergue owned by a South African...in Vilacha which means village..

Casa Banderas! Which means House of Flags.... So good to see theSouth African flag..