We woke up to heavy rain again and the possibility of flooding. We dawdled for awhile in hopes that the rain would let up.

On our way out we met Sandy, a pilgrim with an interesting story to tell. Four months ago, she had a recurring dream about the Camino, which was no ordinary dream. She would close her eyes, and the dream would continue. So, she took it as a sign and booked a flight to Lisbon to walk the Camino Portuguese. For the first nine days out of Lisbon, she saw no other pilgrims. What she loved most about that stretch of the Camino was staying with local families in their homes. Unfortunately, wildfires in Portugal aggravated her asthma, so she made a detour to Fatima. Sandy’s time there was an amazing and unforgettable experience—nothing short of life-changing.

To get back on track, she took a bus to Vigo. Since Vigo is within 100 km of Santiago, she won’t qualify for a Compostela, as she hasn’t collected the required two stamps per day. However, it doesn’t matter to her—her Credential is full of stamps, and that’s what truly matters.

As we parted ways, I said, “I hope we see you again.” With certainty, Sandy replied, “We will. I know we will!” There was something magical about her confidence, and I found myself trusting that we would meet again.

By the time Dave and I finally left, the downpour had stopped just long enough to give us hope, only to start up again almost immediately. There weren’t many chances to snap photos, as we didn’t want to risk getting our phones wet, but here’s a rundown of what we saw on our walk from Puente Arnelas to Vilanova de Arousa, a stretch of about 12 km.

The trails and roads were easier today than yesterday’s steep riverside descent. There were just big puddles to navigate but, after awhile, it felt pointless to avoid them because our boots were already waterlogged, squishing with every step. We saw no pilgrims heading in our direction, only one walking in reverse. Along the way, we passed a drenched horse standing out in the field wearing a coat that wasn’t helping much to keep him/her dry. We also passed a beautiful bodega and I couldn’t help but fantasize about having wine for breakfast, as we still hadn’t eaten a meal. Soon after, we walked through a forest of eucalyptus trees, their bark peeling in long strips. When we reached the coast, we were amazed by the sight of hundreds of clam-diggers at low tide, busy getting their “catch” and having it weighed. The rakes they use have incredibly long teeth!

Once we finally arrived in Vilanova de Arousa, we treated ourselves to the biggest hamburger we’ve ever seen, along with a huge plate of fries. One hamburger would probably have satisfied both of us but we each had our own and didn’t leave anything behind. Digesting it all might take a while—definitely too much food in one sitting!

And, true to her word, who should walk in halfway through our meal but Sandy in her bright yellow Mickey Mouse poncho! It was such a joy to see her again. She’s planning to book a ticket for The Pilgrim’s Boat, the same one we’ll be taking tomorrow. I hope to hear more of her amazing story.