Day 11 – to Monção Peneda-Gerês National Park, Portugal

Not a huge amount to report on today, as a fair bit of it was spent sat in Volkswagen, Santiago de Compostela.

I had reckoned without the temperature dropping significantly at night as I had moved inland. The fine clear day resulted in minus 5 centigrade overnight, and with the quirk of the Spanish clock at this time of year, it is still dark until after 8 am, so a chilly start for a dog walk, and the usual outdoor necessities.

Fifteen minutes deciding the outside, and inside, of the windows also..

Vampire in Love

I was at VW for 8:45 and was finished at 1 pm. Just time for some reading, and chat with the many passers by to the waiting room who wanted to become acquainted with the dog, who just lay impassively on the floor throughout. A mention for my highlight reading wise, the Spanish writer Enrique Vilas-Matas’s short stories in Vampire In Love. They’re a sort of Lovecraftian horror, science fiction, absurdist blend, but all of them, very humorous. My review above..

All the jobs on the van were done; the wipers, which I had been told at Carballo needed a new motor, the electrics to the steering wheel, and the Front Sensor warning light. All have been minor faults for 6 months now, but I chose to get them done here as I had had such excellent service In Teruel two years ago.

And it was the same case here.

At the debrief, the guy told me there had been no need for a new motor, and sorted the other problems out. I had estimated 500 euros, and could easily have been more, my estimates for vehicle repairs are usually well under the mark.

The actual bill was €119, which I had to do a double take on. There had been three hours labour at least.

It was another clear day, and inland up to 17C in the afternoon. A pity not to get out very much, but equally good to get the van sorted.

There was then a 90 minute drive to the Peneda-Gerês National Park, where I expect to be for the next three weeks.

Initially i went to Sistelo (above), which in one of the historic and beautiful Portugal villages on the tourist list.

There were a few tourists around. I had a quick wander, but decided to move on to an overnight spot from where I will hike tomorrow, just a few kilometres north.

And a couple of visitors just before sundown..