Day 25 ... Casanova (close by!) to Calle/Arca (also close by!)

Well.. Our luck just keeps arriving by the truckload. We are pretty sure someone out there is walking the camino with us. A lovely stay in 2 rooms of bunk beds which on the Refugio rating of excellence were an 11 and this does not do them justice. Slept so well that the promise of an early start was slightly scuppered by the comfort and lack of non-english europeans (note lack of specific nationalities!) moving around at 4am and bursting into laughter by 6am ... Ahh our fellow perigrinos are so amusing sometimes...
Anyway, despite a rushed breakfast and a shuttle back to the camino we joined the "rush hour" of pilgrims which now have swelled by the tourist crowd. You can tell a tourist pilgrim because their clothes are clean, their boots look new and they smell nicer! Also they continually stretch their muscles and cheer whenever they get to the top of any small incline... We must become more gracious pilgrims.. Probably will kick in by tomorrow!
So off we went - pilgrim eileen out in front setting the pace.. After 10km we fell into the trap of an internet café that did fresh orange and doughnuts.. Probably stayed too late there but it was nice to send out some of the photos and stuff - and the doughnuts were memorable!
This part of spain is becoming more and more like surrey with every mile. Although there are forests of eucalyptus trees here which are amazing .. Very tall and silver in colour. The lanes are all leafy, very little road travelling today and only small hamlets to divide up the walk. Beautiful country all around us still.
Had to stop for lunch at the nearest café to refuel the tired and struggling pilgrims at Arzua. But wasn't until late afternoon. Trip to local tourist office told us that there was no accomodation for next 20kms... Ooops. Next stop was a large refugio but even seasoned pilgrims would struggle with this distance late into the night. Trust was placed into relevant hands and off we went with the hope of something appearing during the next few kms.. PJ no longer stressed at this prospect so something has changed!
Rain pouring down and with ponchos on we trooped onwards. Two small bars seemed best option as it approached 8pm. Lynda bumped into a door by accident causing small Gallegan woman (all wear same blue head scarf!) bearing kitchen knife only to confirm our accommodation needs would not be met until 8kms or more.
Then this luck thing kicks in.. PJ notices 4 inch wide sign saying "bar 100m" on side of house pointing indiscriminately .. Turns out to be on main rd. Pidgeon spanish concluded that we have beds in a beautiful renovated casa rural.. Baths included in room, large sitting rooms 17th century .. Heaven for pilgrims who smell as nice as the tourists now!.
Wee bean is now cruising at top speed, PL (smallest pilgrim) has walked twice as far as anyone else and keeps getting many "bravo nino" from admiring spaniards .. Pilgrim Sammy uncomplaining and fit as a fiddle keeps sally occupd ed with the memory games! PK knackered but in full song with every km.
Although left with a longer stretch than we planned and a bit of a complicated start we are excited at the prospect of walking into santiago tomorrow after such a long walk. Goodnight from a very rainy galicia 30km from Santiago xx
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