Day 26 - 19.3km - Samos to Vilei

It's going to get busy folks. Today we pass through the town of Sarria, this is the biggest town on the Camino and marks the start point for a while crowd of pilgrims. In order to complete the pilgrimage and get the credential a pilgrim must walk 100km. Sarria is 110km from Santiago so makes a good start point for those pilgrims, including a lot of Spanish who come to do the walk in a few days. We set out from our accomodation next to the monostary in a Stephen King movie, the clouds down around us, mist obscuring vision more than 50m away. It was earily quiet as we walked through the long narrow town and out into the country. The path continues to follow the river, though we could barely see it. Spectral figures of other pilgrims moved into view as we moved passed them, or they us. The path today had little of note, the walk was one of purpose, to move to the 100km mark! We walked through woods, through fields and through villages! We joined the road for the second half of the day, a path by the side of the road led us forward to Sarria. The condensation on my phone is still problematic so I called in at SarriaPhone, a local repair shop. The chap said he would dismantle the phone and sort it out, but come back at 4. It was 10.30. So we set off, phone left behind and hopeful it will be fixed! Sarria is another town built on a hill, and steep one at that. So we leant forward and plodded up the steep hill. Near the top we found a cafe and stopped for some breakfast. Onwards, down the other side of Sarria and along some railway tracks. Another big incline through an ancient forest and we arrived in Vilei, a small town but him to Casa Barbadelo where we will be staying in a private room and enjoying the swimming pool! The large, cold beer in the 30 degree sunshine was heaven as was the swim in the pool. We relaxed for a few hours before I got a taxi back into Sarria. Phone collected for the grand sum of 15e. I walked all the way up through Sarria to the hill top, for the phone out and the condensation was back! Back down the hill and he took the phone, another 90 minutes to wait.... So back up the hill to the pilgrim area for a rest. Back to the phone shop and it's all good, fingers crossed this time it will be fine. So back up the hill, a few photos, and a route march back to Vilei. I added an extra 5miles up and down hills, but the phone is working so there is a positive. The Casa offered a great dinner for 15 which was probably in the top 5 of the Camino. Another great day in the camino! Only a few days left pilgrims, keep pushing!!