29.4 km – 18.33 miles

7:10am to 3:00pm walking time

~900 meters – 2952 feet elevation gain

The moon was big and bright when I started this morning. Minus the gals talking very loudly right behind me, it was a peaceful morning to start the walk. I had tried to speed up to get away from those girls, but then they sped up enough to stay right behind me, until I got frustrated enough to let them pass me.

That got me thinking to provide a list of things to help a Camino newbie to not become that “annoying” pilgrim. This list won’t be complete, but it’s stuff that’s come up on this trip…

1- Be mindful of your volume when walking right behind other pilgrims. Especially early on in the day. Many of us like some peace and quiet and want to hear the sounds of the Camino rather than the sounds of you yelling your conversation to the person next to you (or as sometimes happens, to the person on the phone you’re talking to).

2- Related to #1 – do NOT listen to music without your headphones. No pilgrim came to walk the Camino just to listen to your music on your crappy phone speaker.

3- Please, please, please get the rubber covers for the bottom of your poles. Listening to your CLICK, CLICK, CLICK constantly is worse than the loud ticking grandfather clock in a horror movie. Also, how can you stand yourself with that constant annoyance?!

4- In an albergue, if you are an early riser (before 6ish), make sure you’ve packed everything by your bed the night before. Listening to you shuffle through your things and maybe even with your headlamp on is keeping everyone else awake.

5- Headlamp in the albergue – if you’re constantly moving around to find your stuff, that means you’re sometimes flashing someone you woke up right in their eyes. Even the red light hurts when flashed directly at someone. Maybe consider your cell phone on its lowest flashlight setting possible instead and be sure not to shine it at people in their beds.

6- This is mostly for the 100km pilgrims – say “Buen Camino” or don’t just grumble when those of us walking 500 miles say it to you. Especially on the French Way, we are in this together and it’s much more fun to encounter pleasant people along the way.

7- More for your personal happiness, know that about 20-40% of the bar/cafe bathrooms don’t have toilet paper, so be prepared!

8- The Camino bars and cafes (outside seating) is one place you can feel ok about taking your shoes off and dealing with your blisters and no one will be insulted or shocked. They might also offer you bandages, compeed or a needle and thread too. Just remember not to take that habit back home. 😉

I’m sure there are plenty more tips to share and those of you who have walked the Camino, feel free to add your tips in the comments.

The walk today was a bit more interesting than yesterday. Although after I hit the town of Melide, I was back on the same path I walked just over a year ago since that’s where the Primitivo meets the French Way. So I’d say that means the rest of the way won’t be that different from my recent memory. Lots of hills. So many hills.

While I walked mostly alone today, I was happy to have company at each of my breaks. Definitely helps break up the day in a healthier way.

I’m 38km out from Santiago. While my plans were targeting the 20th for my arrival, I could be tempted to walk the 38km there tomorrow. I think it’ll be a game time decision on that though since my body is tired.