Day 5 – descending to Grandas de Salime

14.3 mi(23.09 km), 2,254 ft gain (687 m), 3,399 ft loss (1,028 m)

Today was a really good classic day on the Camino in that it had a lot of beauty, it had a lot of seeing others on the trail you know by now and stopping at a few cafes for extra breaks with food, drink, and sharing laughs. And then meeting up with seemingly all you’ve seen on the trail over the past 4 days at a stop at a beautiful cafe overlooking the water and dam after finishing off a long descent with a delicious ice cream cone:).

Also now in day 5 those steep climbs are a bit easier, the albergue routine a bit simpler, the physical adapting a bit stronger so all in all this Camino is now settling into its own.

A little shorter today than the previous 4 days so getting in town earlier felt like I had a lot of time to catch up on things. Which means finding an albergue with a washer and dryer, reorganizing my pack, picking up some supplies,etc. The joys of what a simple few extra hours of an earlier arrival will give you. Then finishing it off with a pilgrim mass at the very old church in town center for Grandas de Salime then ended with a pilgrim blessing and the words you hear most often every day – “Buen Camino”. Lastly a very long, very fun dinner with many of those walking the same paths these last 4 days – a very good classic Camino day !