{"id":7938,"date":"2026-06-02T16:31:05","date_gmt":"2026-06-02T06:31:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/robscamino.com\/2026\/?p=7938"},"modified":"2026-06-05T18:47:19","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T08:47:19","slug":"day-17-dornelas-to-lestedo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/robscamino.com\/2026\/day-17-dornelas-to-lestedo\/","title":{"rendered":"Day 17 – Dornelas to Lestedo"},"content":{"rendered":"

So, we left Casa Leiras at about 6:00, well before sunrise and the albergue was very full. It was only a 10 bed albergue but we spoke to a couple of people the evening before to check out what time they were leaving and there was three or four others leaving early. So it was not a problem and they said that they would be packed the night before or mostly packed and then carry their stuff out into the bar area in the morning and leave it there.<\/p>\n

So we did the same, we were pretty fairly well packed and I think we got up at about 10 past 5. I had the alarm set for 5:20 but woke up at about 5:10 and so we snuck out just using the light from our phone screens. And I have a red background on my lock screen on my phone so if I just click the phone screen on it’s a very dim red light which is perfect. Just to see your way out of a dark dormitory room. And so we took our stuff out into the bar area where there was three or four guys getting dressed and getting ready. Then within about 30 or 40 minutes, we were ready to go.<\/p>\n

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I had a bit of a bite of an empanada that we had left over from yesterday. The stay in Casa Leiras was very pleasant. A nice evening meal, a community meal the night before. The only thing I would say about Casa Leiras is that if you are one of these people who likes to relax in the afternoon, in the peace and quiet, that might not be the ideal location for you. One of the owners of the albergue teaches local kids in the afternoons italian and maths and English and you know that’s going on just outside the albergue. It’s a very nice place to stay but I wouldn’t call it a restful place and there’s, you know, a bar area and people are hanging out there but otherwise very good, very nice hosts. We had a great night’s sleep, great meal.<\/p>\n

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So, we set out from Casa Leiras at about 6:00 using head torches. We were hoping to find somewhere open for breakfast prior to reaching Ponte Ulla but we didn’t. When we got to Ponte Ulla, we were hoping to find a cafe open but there wasn’t one. There was a self-service area where you could get coffees and the vending machine with food and stuff but we knew there was a supermarket just around the corner so we went around there and that opened at 9:00 and we managed to get some nice flavoured yogurts and a couple of snacks to have during the rest of the walk.<\/p>\n

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The walk down Ponte Ulla wasn’t quite as bad as I remembered. I think I was confusing it with another walk or another descent on the Camino Invierno, on my last Camino. It was very steep. It was on the road, but not as steep as I recall. You still need to take care. Although it was amusing at one point where one guy about my age just walk straight past us down the center of the road without even using hiking poles. I’d say you must\u2019ve live in the Alps or something, very strong knees. So, then we walked from Ponte Ulla up up up to Outeiro.<\/p>\n

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That was a long slog because the day was getting very hot. It was probably 25 degrees and very humid by then, 25, 26. And it’s about 5k’s from Ponte Ulla to where we’re staying in Lestedo. So I think it was about, no, it might be more than that actually it was about 4 up to Outeiro where we stopped at the little chapel for a picnic and then up past the Municipal Albergue at Outeiro and then continuing on to Lestedo which is probably another 3k’s past Outeiro to the Casa de Casal where I’ve stayed before. Very pleasant sort of country hotel and we’re just relaxing in the heat, awaiting our final day into Santiago tomorrow.<\/p>\n

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