Some are actually enjoying this weather!!
Camino January 2026
Sunday February 1, 2026
Palas de Rei to Arzua – 17.9 miles
Yesterday I decided to treat myself to what I thought would be a nice hotel room. I have been staying in nice places, but they tend to be small. The pictures looked good and it was a “real” hotel, 3 floors, and a lobby. I did enjoy a nice shower, but that was about it. I don’t think the heat had been on in that room for a while. Everything was damp. The floor was very cold, as was the outside wall. The floor literally had condensation on it this morning. I left a pair of socks on the floor and they were literally wet this morning. My pack was wet as well. It was crazy. I had hung my clothes to dry and everything was damp this morning. I have been in several places where it was cold to start, but once I got the heat on, things warmed up and dried out.
I think every entry recently has begun with something about the weather. Well, it did not rain while I was walking. (It is now, as I am writing this) It was misty and 100% humidity. The temperature reached 50, so too warm in my opinion. I know, I am tough to please. I actually enjoyed the snow and 30 degrees. It was much easier to control my body temperature. I stayed dry and did not sweat. Tomorrow is calling for another half inch of rain in the morning with temps in the mid 40s. I am not sure what to wear under my rain gear. I am sure to sweat going up any hill.
The walk through Galicia continues to be beautiful. It is amazingly green. There are many pilgrims about, which makes it fun. I saw the Spanish youth group, a new German woman who started in Leon, The Aussie with the two Americans and 4 Koreans I have seen the past 3 days.
Lot’s of sheep today. With the better weather more domestic animals are out and about. Today’s walk went through many small villages. Not as many farms, so not much manure on the path today. With two days of no rain the path is drying out. There are still places where you walk through a stream, but it is much easier to avoid the water now.
In the town of Melide I stopped for lunch. I had a waffle with ice cream on top. The town was very busy, which was great to see.
The sunrise is now at 8:47AM, and sunset is 6:45PM. When I started in St Jean the sunrise was at 8:38AM and sunset was at 5:40PM. Not sure why I am including this, but I find it interesting the sunrise gets later as I walk west every day, even though the days are almost an hour longer now.
Monday February 2, 2026
Arzua to O Pedrouzo – 12.0 miles
More typical Galician countryside. The area is getting more populated as we get closer to Santiago. There are lots of small towns now and fewer farms. It is amazing how many places to stay and/or cafes along the path. Most are closed now, but soon will be busy with pilgrims.
So far this year (32 days) there have been 1,138 pilgrims get a Compostela for walking the Frances. Only 161 started in St Jean. 65% started in Sarria. This is down 23% from last year. Today 3 pilgrims finished who started in SJPdP. Of the 161, 6 have been American, 88 Koreans. Korean schools have January and February off. They do not get summers off like we do in the US.
The rain tried to hold off, but by 9AM it was raining and pretty much was a steady rain until about 1, when I arrived in O Pedrouzo. It has been raining on and off all afternoon. We got an inch last night and are supposed to get another inch tonight. I woke up a few times last night as it was pouring. We sure could use some of this rain at home in Arizona.
Once in town I stopped for a good lunch. Spaghetti for an appetizer, chicken for the primary and a vanilla custard for dessert. Then I checked in, put on some dry clothes and headed out to the local Dia to get some snacks for tonight/tomorrow and breakfast for the morning. They did not have a fresh orange juice machine, so a got a chocolate milk for breakfast.
Not many pictures again today as with the rain it is tough to pull out my phone.
Tuesday February 3, 2026
Pedrouzo to Santiago – 12.0 miles
This was my last day on the Frances. Elizabeth asked how I was feeling about being finishing. It is quite anticlimactic for me. I don’t like finishing adventures; I like doing them. I had mixed emotions about finishing the Appalachian trail, and that was 126 days, tenting and carrying food. Tomorrow I will take a bus to the northern coastal city of Ferrol and walk the 71 miles back to Santiago on the Camino Ingles. This is also through the Galician countryside, so it should be beautiful scenery. I have never walked the Ingles. The extended weather forecast is for more rainy weather, so today I bought a poncho. It is a hybrid jacket/poncho. It fits over a pack, but has sleeves and is longer than a jacket. I won’t need to wear a jacket under this. I figure this will be a great test walk. We don’t get cold rainy days in Phoenix to try out gear.
Another example of doing adventures, but not finishing, is our visiting the US National Parks. We started in October 2019 and by June 2022 we had visited 58 of the 63 Parks. In 2023 we visited zero, in 2024 we visited 3 and in 2025 we visited 1. We only have one left, but there is no urgency to finish. I personally don’t want that adventure to be over.
OK, back to today. The forecast was for rain off and on all day. Local flooding possible, mostly because the ground is totally saturated. It poured all night again, another inch plus. When I started at about 8:30 it was cloudy, but no rain. The waves of rain did come, but they did not stay long. A few times the sky would brighten, only to have the rain come back. I did see rainbows twice, but neither were photo worthy. On the path I saw my Italian friend and 4 young Korean ladies. The first 6 miles are typical of Galicia, but then you get to the airport and the Santiago suburbs, so more street walking, then the final 2+ miles are through Santiago till you reach the Cathedral. When I was 2 miles away the sun came out. I was thinking what a great finish, but 15 minutes later it was raining again. When I actually reached the cathedral, it was beautiful, sunny and 45 degrees. You will see in the pictures. The clouds did return, but no rain till about 5PM.
I got my Compostela, checked in to my hotel, went out for lunch, walked to an outfitter to get my poncho, went to the Dia to get something for breakfast tomorrow and now back to the room to shower and write this journal. It is 5:30 as I write this. I plan to get a dessert later, then go to the 7:30 mass. I still need to book a room for tomorrow in Ferrol and get a bus ticket. The bus is quicker and cheaper than a train, and it has a better schedule. 9AM departure, where the train is 6:30 or noon.
The evening mass was well attended by the locals. I only recognized 2 pilgrims, which was kind of disappointing. I am glad I went, even though I don’t understand what is being said. I did understand in the beginning they talked about us pilgrims and they listed off a bunch of starting points.
Travel is the perfect catalyst for tolerance and acceptance. – Author unknown
Gary and Elizabeth's Adventures 