The public albergue in Tui asks you to leave by 8am, in Portugal it tended to be more like 9, but I remember from Camino Frances that the Spanish albergues are quite military in their expulsion times! I woke at 7 and got ready to meet the girls at their posh hostel at 7:30 as the plan was to walk nearly 30km today to a nice little albergue Lucille had spotted in Padron called Albergue Corisco. By the time we had drank our coffees and paid up in the busy little cafe it was half eight. We set off and soon were separate and in our own little worlds, walking at our own speeds. Lucille is fast but stops to meditate – you sometimes come across her sat some place blending in to the countryside around her!

Walking out of Tui was a delight, the morning was warm and I passed by churches and a convent, and through cute, Spanish streets that hadn’t changed in hundreds of years…. A beautiful city steeped in history and magical to stroll through.

The city gave way to park land with picnic areas and locals out jogging or walking their dogs, never too busy to wish the pilgrims a ‘buen camino’ on their way. There were more pilgrims today. Many people start their Camino in Tui, it being 121.6km from Santiago and thereby over the required 100km needed to receive the Compostela. There were more official waymarks and albergues, cafes, water fountains, and even some vending machines. Not so many cows or goats today but a few handsome cats and dogs!

The path followed a little river and pretty soon it was time for a cafe Americano con un poco de leche! My 1 euro coffee came with biscuits – a sure sign I am back in Spain and the land of the free food with a cuppa!

The Brierly book warns that the traditional Camino in to the industrial city of Porrino is along a boring, busy stretch of road and advises pilgrims to take the alternative route which is clearly waymarked as the complimentario route.

The walk today was easy and I soon found myself in Porrino, and out the other side, with little hassle. It was a good opportunity to pop in to Lidl and stock up and tasty cherry tomatoes and seedless grapes!

My plan was to join the girls in Padron but I came up on the very cute little village that is Mos! It was a delightful, quaint wee place with lovely views, scary scarecrows, and a fabulous albergue for 6 euros with beds distributed over a few rooms, real individual bathrooms, a huge balcony with views and a

fully equipped kitchen. I was sold and messaged the girls to say I would probably catch up with them tomorrow. Opposite the albergue was a lovely cosy bar with an outdoor heater and delicious vino, though so it should be at 1euro50 a glass! I am used to my 1 euro bargains!

I did my jobs, (the shower was pretty cold but other than that I loved the albergue!) and finally cooked up the courgette and pasta I have been carrying for days! My bag will be one courgette lighter tomorrow! Then headed over to the cute bar. I’m there right now! But it is 21:30 and the albergue shuts at 22:00 so I’d best wrap this blog up! Hasta Luego Camino Tribe!