Sarria to Palas del Rei

Rainy start in the dark and a steep climb to warm the system before settling to tracks and lanes with plenty of standing and running water ... an hour on and Alina, from Brazil, is coaxed from her shelter for some company ... married to an Italian, they both work on cruise ships ...she lacks gaiters, and since the pair in the pack are surplus to requirements she puts them to use ... and reduces the weight, which is great ... her handy Camino app advises coffee ahead, though is not advanced enough to know whether the bar is actually open .... never mind, we plodge on and find coffee and tortilla 10 km from Portomarin ... where we arrive and part at 12.30, she to an Albergue, me to find lunch before an afternoon shift ... lunch at the Mirador is wonderful, a great view of the lake, under which the original town now lies, Sun drying damp clothes, veggie soup followed by scrambled eggs and mushrooms, with Tarta de Santiago for dessert ... fed, rested and ready for the 25km to Palas del Rei, and Sun takes its turn with sleet and rain showers all the way ... one coffee stop at halfway, where a school exchange group of American and Spanish students are settled, discussing some theology earnestly, though without openings for sceptical elderly English pilgrims .. just as well, the Americans had that shiny faced look of the true believer ... into the zone for the afternoon, pilgrim free until just before home, when two Austrian blokes, three German women and five Spaniards are overtaken ... into town before 7, for another near 50 km day ... quite tired, but well set for Santiago on Thursday ...