Portomarin to Melide ...

After promising Gary, eye doctor from Salt Lake City, retired after noting a slight tremor in the hands, Jess, Aussie Erasmus student on a break from Dublin where she is studying, and Andre, from Slovakia, porridge for breakfast ... up early to cook the windfall apples with oats and banana ... Gary is sleeping in, so after eating, the pot goes to the downstairs kitchen for whoever wants it ... Gary later reporting he had not found it, Andre, smiling a lot, understanding a little, also ... Jess ate two bowls ...

At about 8, it was out into a mizzy dawn and an hour and a half to the first bar ... tempting with egg and chips, more greed than hunger. .. John, Aussie mental health nurse arrives and conversation ensues ... continued on the walk until before Palas, where he stops for lunch ... in town, a storm and a bar combine and a shandy and tapas top up the energy to push past this possible stage ... 25 km ... with Melide a doable afternoon 15, upping the pace and the storm past, some warm sunshine and pleasant enough, with plenty of pilgrims, though none walking along at the desired pace for the 40 km day ... which leaves good options for Santiago ... two easy 25s, a 30 or 35 followed by a relaxed stroll into the city ... a crazy 52 is doable but not desirable ... enough of that madness ...

Arriving tired in Melida just before 6, the search is on for a bed ... dormitory or room are both fine, and at a bar and pension a €25 single room, with double bed, appears ... no plans to sub-let half of that ... now for some food and rest ...