From Triacastella to Sarria 21.5 km)

As last night was rather uneventful I manage to get up and be on the way by 7 am. The guide book says: easy trail. Well, it said so many times already and every time it was NOT true. The first 5 km are straight up the hill. The trails are mainly natural trails with everything that comes with it (little, rivers, stones etc)

In Pintin I have my breakfast at 9 am and run into 2 happy seniors from Canada; she detects my bandage on the knee and asks me how bad it is. To be honest I did not think about it and it was ok...but now that she mentioned it...

People in Galicia are very friendly and welcoming to us pilgrims: yesterday at the entrance of Triacastella e.g. the old lady of a farm house - she must have been in her 90s - welcomed all passing pilgrims to taste her fresh pancakes.  " You are realy tall. You have to eat two," she commanded me  and I did not object of course. When you ask a Galician about witches by the way, you get a clearly unclear answer :" I don't believe in witches, but I know they exist".

After drying off a little bit in Pintin during breakfast - I am soaking sweaty and the sun is no where near its highest point yet - I continue my walk to Sarria. Much more freak antsy you can see signs now next to the trail with the "count down" to Santiago: 116 km left from Sarria. 3 weeks ago such a hint wouldn't have motivated me, because 100 km was so much. Today it sure is a motivation as you now know that you can make it to Santiago.

Maybe this is also the way with believing in God: we know he is there - like I know there is a Santiago de Compostella - but we have so many doubts. Regardless of the doubts though it feels great to be closer to Santiago and closer to God.

 The welcoming picture at the entrance to Sarria could not be any better: a stock family greets all pilgrims at the entrance of the town.