Day 12 – Ourense to Tamallancos

So, today was our start of the Camino Sanabres or at least the last 100 kms of it into Santiago. So, for this one, we’ll aim to get a compostela, and we looked at the weather forecast, and it’s going to be 30-31 degrees. So we thought, well, we’ve got a big climb out of Ourense to begin with, so let’s start really early.

 

 

So, we got up at five o’clock. We’re not very good at getting ready in the morning; it takes us an hour or so. We got up at five o’clock, had breakfast in our hotel room, had my go-to breakfast of a tin of sardines and a bread roll, and luckily, there was a kettle. So Pat was able to have some noodles and then we set off out of Ourense. And it’s a couple of k’s really to get out of the city and then the climb started. Oh gee! That was a very difficult few kilometers.

 

 

I think it was about a 300-meter ascent, but just very steep, very slow all the way. We struggled with that a little bit, but we’re just glad that we left early, so it wasn’t too hot. We had about eight or nine other pilgrims pass us on the way. I think most had been walking the Via de la Plata, so they were all fairly fit.

And then once we got to the top of the slope, things flattened out and it became a lot easier and much more pleasant. Some very pleasant walking through forests. And because of the heat and the very steep hill, we made this day only a short one, just 12 kms.

 

 

So, we walked to Tamallancos. We found a cafe on the outskirts of Tamallancos and a petrol station where we stopped for a coffee and a bit of tortilla, which was delicious. And then moved on to Tamallancos village, where we are staying in Via Stellae, I think it’s called. It’s a little guest house with five rooms, I think, and a little bar downstairs, very comfortable. But I did contact them last night and said, “We’re going to arrive early. I hope that’s okay because of the heat.” So, we got here at 11, and then we popped out for something to eat. There’s a bar just over the road and our room was ready by about 1 o’clock, so it was time to get the washing done and relax a bit.

 

 

And that’s our first day of the Sanabres over with. Overall, it’s been a very good day. We have a slightly longer day tomorrow, 18kms, with a few bumps in the road as well. Let’s see how we go.