Our welcome to Santiago de
Compostela, and I suppose that of pilgrims who passed through Lugo is an out of
town shopping centre. Surely that brings the pilgrims quickly back into the
modern material world? Actually for us it was ideal as we wanted to buy some
things we like from both Mercadona, the best Spanish supermarket, and from
Lidl. Next door was electronics shop Media Markt so we went in to ask how to
charge the computer from the cigarette lighter socket when we are driving. We
came out with a 300 watt DC to AC inverter and from that moment our life became
easier. Power for the computer has been one of our biggest challenges so far on
the trip, as it is also on our boat, but in the camper we have a diesel engine
which when running can power the inverter.
We came to a parking place about 25
minutes’ walk from the historic centre, recommended in www.park4night.com. It would have been impossible in day time to find room for
our large vehicle, but with most commuters gone for the night we park in a way
so as not to be blocked in. We were just by tennis courts, and between two busy
roads, but it was ok for the night.
We awoke to find all the car spaces
taken, and we walked off to explore the centre and find the famous cathedral. Skies
were grey so it was not ideal for photography, but we found the old streets
fascinating, and with some difficulty found the cathedral, the final goal of
many Comino pilgrims.
We have been told that the true end of the Camino is Cape
Finisterre, where traditionally shoes are cast into the ocean having served the
feet for the duration of the Camino.
It is a city in which to linger,
but we needed to move on, driving to the west coast of Galicia, finding a place
on the street to spend the night at Portonovo, with the sounds of waves
breaking against the rocks beneath us.
We walked by dark around the bay on the boardwalk above the sand and
grass. It is a lovely location.
Next morning we drove on to Vigo to
find the Laika motor caravan agent to try to sort out the body damage from the
tyre blow out, also to replace the headlight bulbs. Days later Laika have still
not responded with price or availability for the part we need, not only for the
repair, but to be legal again to pass the annual vehicle inspection due in
December.
The dealer is close to the coast
and we enjoyed a walk alongside the beach and small forest.
In the distance see the beautiful Islas Cies, where I had anchored in 2001. They protect the bay perfectly.
We continued south
through Baiona, the small port into which I sailed our catamaran into after
crossing the Bay of Biscay 2001. The wind was strong and waves were rolling up
the exposed coastline.
In darkness we passed through A
Guarda, the border town to a parking area at the banks of the River Minho which
forms the natural border between Spain and Portugal. It was a wet and windy
night, but next morning we enjoyed walking by the river before heading to
Portugal, and of course topping up first with diesel as prices are about 20
cents per litre higher in Portugal.
We could have spent many days in
this area, but we have a flight to catch.
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