CAMINO INGLES-BETANZOS to BRUMA

The walk to Bruma was always going to be the longest days walk,before we came we knew this stage would challenge us

29k with a lot of hills when so far we had only managed 15k. OK the weather hadn't helped but that wasn't showing any signs of getting better.

The plan was to get as far as Bar Julie 10k from bruma and then maybe get a taxi

The bar stands at the foot of a large and long hill and traditionally you stop at the bar drink a glass of "Johnnie Walker" and go for it.

We left Betanzos in high spirits just before light

and the day just kept getting better, my prawn

toe inducing boots had been replaced by walking trainers and with a lighter step we crossed a small bridge and headed uphill and just kept going,it seemed the heavy rain was being polite that day, waiting until we took sheltered breaks ( breakfast dinner etc) before pouring down

the dark rain clouds circled us without ever intruding just acting as a backdrop to the amazing views.

we checked our progress on wayside maps eager

to see how far the "you are here" had moved down the board towards Bruma.

We finally made it to the small village which housed the famous Bar Julia and from the outside it looked very unassuming but don't be fooled this is the king of bars and not to be missed

inside it appears to be small and cosy but steps up and down lead to various eating area's.

a young boy 12-14 was serving and doing very well, his grandmother was sat with what looked like a 5 piece drum machine between her legs making large plate fulls of crepes that were handed out to the fairly large crowd. the father was busy polishing glass panelled doors,the mother and two daughters busy in the kitchen.

the whole place had the look and feel of Ireland
about it only missing the smell of peat.

the young lad was an accomplished barman and keep the conversation flowing even including us

as he took the opportunity to improve his English.

By now the polite rain had started falling and kept us from leaving, but we were in no rush this was obviously the place to be as more and more people kept coming through the door,each one more resplendent than the last,this was either the shabby chic place to be on a Saturday or more likely some celebration,

It was time to leave,we called for the Johnnie Walker Red Label chaser,offers of lifts were politely refused we had a hill to climb!!

The sun even came out to wish us luck,as we set

off up the hill and looking back on the village the unassuming frontage of the bar was indeed just a front for the palatial house at the back,check out all the parked cars.

perhaps fuelled by the whisky The hill wasn't causing too many problems. we were even entertained on one corner by the most show off horse I've ever seen,my pic does not do him justice. The hill became a steep track that continued for some time till we crossed a bridge with a motorway far far below,so far below that I could only walk in the middle while Rosie leaned over the edge enthusing over the amazing view while I tried not to drop on all fours and crawl the

bridge.

The sun was that bright that we were even able to get the obligatory shadow pictured.

It was here on one of the only downward sections, that Rosie knee gave out and was to give her concern for the

rest of the walk and contiues to do so.

We kept going and soon was at the 1K sign,what seem a long one K later we were outside the auberge our home for the night,one phone call and 15 minutes later the man was there wondering why we hadn't gone inside,as he showed us the unlocked door, an unknown phenomenon in England.

dropping our bags in the dorm he even drove us 2K to the nearest supermarket.

stocked up with good food that we feasted on that night

and toasting our success with the local wine Alberino.

a perfect end to a truly perfect day.