Camino Ingles Day 8: Ordes to Sigüeiro – GWC Mag

Our eighth day on the Camino Ingles had us walking our penultimate stage on our journey to Santiago. After a short and restful day at Casa Rural Anton Veiras on day seven, we had a slightly longer walk on tap to arrive at our albergue in Sigüeiro. The weather forecast for the day predicted a cool morning and a hot afternoon. After a satisfying breakfast, we hit the trail in O Outeiro and made our way through a lush forest to begin the day.

Stage 8 Overview:

Point to Point:Ordes to Sigüeiro
Distance: 7.7 miles / 12.4 km
Elevation Gain: 466ft / 142m
Trail Conditions: Mostly paved roads and sidewalk to begin, followed by a dirt forest path.
Food and Water: Only one on trail food option, so stop there and pack snacks.
End of Day Accommodation: Albergue Camino Real

The first mile of walking out of O Outeiro felt like a fantasyland, with a spectacular trail tunnel through alluring greenery. Owen was feeling strong and full of energy, which helped us get off to a very fast start.

The second to last day on a Camino pilgrimage is always filled with a mix of emotion. Having walked two Caminos before this one, I had been preparing myself for the conflicting feelings of excitement to reach Santiago and the sadness for the journey to be ending. This time around the emotions hit in a brand new way. I was much more of a spectator on this adventure along the Ingles, and loved seeing every second of my son’s magical journey along The Way.

After a quick first mile of hiking, we stopped in the small town of A Calle to grab a second breakfast at Cafe Bar O Cruciero. We enjoyed our usual fare of coffee, tea, juice, tortilla, and bizcocho. We also met a few pilgrims that were passing through. One gentleman from Portugal was walking passing through Sigüeiro and heading all the way to Santiago in one big stage. We also met a wonderful couple from Italy who pumped Owen up with compliments and encouragement.

After leaving A Calle, the Camino Ingles continues on a combination of beautiful dirt paths and paved walkways through farms and villages. Owen made sure to snatch up all the available dandelions and made wishes for just about anything he could think of. There wasn’t much in the way of cattle or livestock, but we did meet a few nice dogs along this stretch.

As the morning fog started to burn off, we could feel the heat of the day beginning to set in. At this point, we only had 26km left until Santiago! Owen was starting to get excited by how close we were, and celebrated with a photo on many of the Camino markers.

At the 5 mile mark for the day, we passed through the small town of Baxoia where there was no Camino services. As much as I loved walking along the Camino Ingles, my one knock on the route is the lack of services when compared to the Frances and Portuguese. We were at a point in the day where we all would have benefited from a break for food and drink, but the next available option wasn’t until our destination in Sigüeiro.

The final stretch of walking on this eighth stage of the Camino Ingles parallels the AP-9 highway along a paved pathway. It was starting to get pretty hot, so we found a nice spot in the shade to have some snacks and hydrate. Owen was also starting to get his very first blister of the trip, so we let his feet air out and got his toes taped up. He continued on for a little while longer, but we eventually called a taxi for the final mile of the day. We wanted to make sure his feet were in perfect health for the final stage the following day.

In Sigüeiro we stayed at the Albergue Camino Real in a private room. This is a fantastic place to stop for pilgrims, as it offers a variety of room and bunk options. This albergue also has a full kitchen, provides breakfast, and has a cooler with drinks at very reasonable price. Best of all, the albergue has a central location close to restaurants and shops in Sigüeiro.

As we walked around Sigüeiro, we saw that there was a conference going on downtown. It turned out to be a conference for the Camino Ingles with representatives from each major city along the path. There was also regional music and vendors selling locally made goods.

After listening to some great music, we made our way to the restaurants in the downtown area and enjoyed a nice meal. There was only one more stage left, and all pilgrims in the town were buzzing with the excitement of reaching Santiago.

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