DAY 66 - PAZOS to ESTACIÓN DE LALÍN - Thursday 27 June 2024

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The sun was just coming up this morning as we left our accommodation. There were the usual Galician structures to admire - stone buildings, horreos, lavaderos. We also saw plenty of grape vines and productive gardens, planted with vegetables and flowers. 

In nearby Cea, famous for its bread, we found a number of traditional community ovens, as well as a statue dedicated to breadmakers. We'd tried the bread the night before and it is indeed good. 

Avoiding the detour to Oseira and the monastery, we took the shorter route, as we already had a long day ahead. The path was undulating, sometimes on a track but mostly on or by the road. At Arenteiro we had a second breakfast where the bartender was thrilled to see their bar was mentioned in an English guidebook.

After the bar stop, the path was again well-marked. Occasionally we passed stands of eucalypts and the scent reminded us of home. Some goats posed nicely for photographs and we found cows en route too. We walked on sunken paths, some with stone slabs along the centre. We also walked alongside the motorway and up into the hills. We nearly caught up to a pilgrim at the top, but we took too many flower photos and he disappeared again. We descended steeply into Castro Dozon, where we enjoyed a cold drink in a bar. We met the Spanish couple from yesterday on the way out!

After topping up our drink bottles from the fountain, we resumed the Camino. We only had a short way to go to our planned lunch break, a truck stop. We could tell we'd made a good choice from the large number of trucks parked along the road. Inside, the waitress spoke Galician to us but we managed to order octopus, trout and squab (pigeon) - can't imagine these being on the menu in an Australian truck stop! We had ice cream to finish - that would be on the menu in Australia.

One pilgrim left as we arrived and another two arrived as we left - we are certainly seeing many more pilgrims in the last few days.

Replete, we joined the Camino again for more down then more up and then a bit of both. We refilled our water bottles several times at village fountains before arriving at Estación de Lalin, our overnight stop. 

A new day dawning 
The start of a long day's walk on the Camino Sanabrés 
We found a book box, near a puddle
Cea - an interesting town for a wander
Some more of Cea
On from Cea
The path took us in and out of several small villages today
Arenteiro
On from Arenteiro 
For those who have been wondering how those random stones come to be placed on the top of some of the Camino signs
This stretch involved a tricky water crossing, the sight of another walker, and wonderful views on the descent into Castro Dozón
After a refreshment stop in Castro Dozón, we resumed our March northwards
Our chosen lunch spot turned out to be a popular choice for truck drivers and walkers alike
Continuing on the Camino Sanabrés after lunch
The last stretch of today's walk
Horreos
Flowers
Animals
Bird
Day 66 - Map

Day:                               66
Distance:                      32.42 km
Walking time:              6 hrs 58 mins
Elevation gain:            820 meters
Cumulative distance: 1,334.85 km

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