We’re resting in our room after yet another gentle stroll through forests of oak, beech and eucalyptus

alongside rivers with hyperactive water boatmen

and through small villages with patches of land devoted to the humble vine.

and across postcard quality medieval bridges spanning ancient estuaries

We’ve covered a mere 18km from last night’s accommodation in Redondela, really just a quick step out before lunch.

It’s only a matter of some 70km to Santiago from here and we’ve three full days to do so. Tom is walking again and is in considerable danger of completing the route and thus gaining the important compostela.

Tonight’s albergue is new, clean, has an excellent shower and is very pleasant. There is a cafeteria next door which is independent of the albergue but given the superb food (in my case, mixed salad, tetrahedral french fries, aioli, good bread and a really nice glass of red wine) that they serve relatively inexpensively, I’m certain that a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship is assured.

Dorothy and I stopped some 3km from the albergue to simply sit and watch the boatmen on the river, making full use of our lightweight camping mats.

We both removed our socks and shoes but disappointingly couldn’t quite reach the surface of the river. Still, it does one good to give toes an airing (especially mine, says Dorothy) every now and again. We whiled away a good half hour watching the boatmen zipping back and forth on the surface, always hoping to see a fish of some sort appear. The water is extremely clear and apparently is sufficiently so as to attract the interest of otters somewhere along its length. No otters but two ducks came swimming past.

We followed them down the river a little later and I have a short video of them quietly broaching themselves before being whisked down a small series of rapids.

We last saw them setting up for the evening on a quiet stretch of river close to the hostel.

As it has been all week with only one exception, the weather has been absolutely stunning with hardly a cloud obscuring the rich, deep blue of the sky. The new XS has a superb camera and I now have an extensive collection of wonderful images of trees, flowers, ducks and of course, an emu.

Some of these are included below.

A touch surreal are these two images of a boot and a hanging doll, neither of which make any sense to me but presumably are of deep significance to someone else, possibly the person who put them there.

In the midst of the forest we came across a chap selling souvenirs of the Camino and who had also as recently as yesterday acquired the all important ‘sello’ or Camino stamp.

He was a cheerful chap and Dorothy simply couldn’t resist stopping. So, presents to all the little ones when we return.

I’ll finish off with an image taken from our window. As with all matters Spanish and it now seems Portuguese, they require little or no urging to brighten up the landscape with delightful sculptures.

Buen Camino