Armenteira Monastery – Vilanova de Arousa (25 km)

Today's 25 km stage was a descent down the other side of the mountain to Vilanova de Arousa, along the Route of Stone and Water. The way was one of the most beautiful: I started at the top of the mountain and went down through the forest with the river and the rocks along the way.

On reaching the foot of the mountain I stopped for breakfast at Pé Eira RestoBar. Then I followed the River Umia until reaching the Ria de Arousa, which we followed until we got to Vilanova de Arousa.

On the way I stopped to chat with a farmer who was spraying his vines that day, a day earlier than planned, because the next day winds above 10 km/h were forecast and when that happens spraying is forbidden and anyone who doesn't comply risks a fine.

The stage was long but beautiful, and by the end the heat was making itself felt. Nearly at Vilanova, and before crossing the bridge, I passed some lovely beaches that immediately made me want to take a dip.

But I carried on since I was almost there and, after settling into the hostel, which is in a municipal sports hall and where I paid €10 to stay, I went to the supermarket to buy a few things for lunch.

Belly full, I went to the beach on the Ria de Arousa with Natalie, where we spent the afternoon stretched out in the sun after a dip in the Ria.

In the late afternoon I went to the terrace for a 0% alcohol beer. It's true, the challenge goes on and both Natalie and I are sticking to it.

In the evening we went for dinner at Mesón O Timón: steamed mussels and tiger mussels, which come with béchamel and are gratinated in the oven, and a salad and a mega bocadillo. Dinner was a riot because of the strong wind and we had to take a thousand precautions to hold down everything on the table so as not to see it all fly away.

After dinner I still took a walk along the ria with Natalie, who told me she had recently got her licence to drive boats up to 20 metres, which surprised me.

Then it was time to rest. There isn't much way left now, I expect to reach Santiago on Saturday.