On the Camino dos Faros, I’m learning a lot: about lighthouses, historic shipwrecks, and archeological sites.
I’m also learning a few other things:
—I have limits. I won’t take the trail if it involves rock-climbing or scary cliff-edge paths. As I’ve gotten older, I have developed a fear of heights. I want to walk the path, not literally climb any of it or worry about falling off.
—There’s more than one way. Upon studying the map, we can usually find an alternate path or road — thank you, Pocket Earth. For example, at a certain point on today’s route, we were to climb a few rocks, then go along a cliff-edge around a headland but we determined a “safer” path up and over the same headland (without rock-climbing or cliff edges) and then on a gravel road along the top. We still had magnificent sea views from up there.
—The guidebook does not present all the details and the author’s definition of an “easy” stage is not necessarily the same as mine. Don’t take what the guidebook says as the “be all and end all.”
—Pay attention to the contour lines on the map. Learn to interpret where they indicate precipitous ascents, descents, cliffs, etc. For us, this is a work in progress - a steep learning curve, so to speak!
—Barnacles are edible and tasty. I never dreamed! But we ate a bowlful for lunch in Corme, after having a demonstration by our waitress! A lot of effort is involved to twist/pull them open to expose the tender morsel inside, but I suppose with practice it’s faster. They are called percebes and are a specialty food on the Galician coast; since Corme is apparently THE place to eat them, we had to give them a try today. They are also known as goose-neck barnacles and they taste like a combination of lobster and clams.
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| Leaving Ponteceso in the morning. |
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| Salt marshes by the estuary at Ponteceso. |
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| The path went through an area of sand dunes and along the side of a big one. |
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| A giant iron spider (with only four legs). |
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| Corme — our destination of the day. |
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| A beach at Corme (our hotel visible). |
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| Eating the percebes! |
Wow the Barnacles look beautiful! I am with you Laurel on your limits--less rocks and no steep cliffs. Wonderful photos! News from here is that the Riders let Fine go. It must have been a difficult decision as they all seem "fine".
ReplyDeleteHaha, I never thought I’d eat barnacles — I think I am braver with food than with some of these trails!
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