Day Thirty-one - Sarria to Portomarin - 24km

We had dinner last night in an Italian restaurant
with some Camino friends.

We left earlier this morning as there are meant to be thunder storms today and we didn't want to be caught outdoors with a metal stick in each hand!

We missed the rain but the weather was incredibly humid.

A lot of people were beginning their Camino today and you could spot their nice clean shoes and confident, fast pace! The humidity and today's hills shocked some of them I think! 

Many people seem to be here after watching the film 'The Way'. Unfortunately in the film the characters never climb vertical hills on rocks and boulders, their rucksacks don't weigh them down and they don't get any blisters! 

For the last few weeks we have walked alone or with just a few other pilgrims around - today it was noticeably busier, and we had to remind ourselves not to feel impatient when groups of people blocked our way or reached a cafe and sat in all the chairs!

Today in most of the photos we decided to focus on the yellow arrows that are placed along the route so we know which way to go. Some are just painted on the road but others are more elaborate.

We also passed the 100km mark. We are so nearly there!

Both the marker posts claimed 100km but they were several 100 metres apart!

The real Portomarin is under the waters of the reservoir.
 The Roman bridge has been extended and the huge flight of steps that greeted us when we had crossed it as well as the town church were taken from their original position in the valley and moved to higher ground.

Look carefully at the small writing - not something you see everyday!