After two days of travelling and relying on public transport, planes and Spanish pizzerias. We arrived in Sarria late afternoon.
The only flight from Gatwick landed in Santiago at 2255h. The albergue I booked for that night shuts their doors at 2200h, however the hospitalario said she would leave the key at a pizzeria next door; I gave an ETA of midnight.
Everything was going to plan until we were on the runway, waiting for 30mins. But the Camino intervened with a tail wind, and we landed 10mins late; plenty of time to get to our beds.
After breakfast we got a taxi back to the airport to catch the coach to Sarria, just missing the morning departure by seconds. Once onboard the afternoon coach, it’s first stop was outside our albergue we had just left!
The journey pretty much followed the Camino, passing places I had stopped at two years ago; it was a nostalgia overload. So many happy memories.
Once we got into Sarria and settled into the albergue, we went for some drinks and food. We met a solo pilgrim from Massachusetts who had started in Astorga. We invited her to join us for the meal.
A first taste of the Camino for my traveling companions. By 2200h we were back at the albergue for the night.
By 0700h we were out the doors on the Camino, head torches on, walking in the pre-dawn dark. That hill out of Sarria was still there! Just after dawn we stopped for breakfast before moving on.
The clouds came in and over the hills in the distance, rain was in the air, but despite the threatening weather it held off.
I managed to get a picture at the 100km way marker. Due to roadworks on this particular stretch of the route; I was I unable to get it in 2021.
From there the kilometres passed by into Vilacha, where I had booked us into Casa Banderas. Although the owners Dominique and Ray are in the states, their daughter Gabrielle is looking after the place.
We had the communal meal with Gabrielle and another pilgrim from Taiwan, who started in St. Jean!
Today was 20km, a tough one to start with, but tomorrow is 15km with less of the hills. Hopefully a more enjoyable walk for my companions.
Stu's Camino 
Pleased to read that you’ve made it to the start of your expedition and have had a good first day walking. Enjoy day two!
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