I slept well under the open sky. Waking at about 6am as it got light, the fog still covered me like a blanket. The fog was dense and the air heavy with moisture. I packed up and went back to the road unsure of exactly where I was. The fog was so thick that it was disorientating. Luckily I had been carrying a compass ever since Le Puy en Velay and finally it was time to use it.
I knew I was south of the Camino, and I knew from where I had arrived the previous night. The road headed west so I set off. It was a bit disturbing after a few kilometres when the road changed direction radically and headed South. It was so confusing in the fog. There were no cars to wave down and no people to ask for directions. After a few sorties up some side roads I found a bus shelter.
It was always a good sign. There must be a town nearby. Continuing along the road there was a junction with a sign post to Arzua which I knew was on the Camino. Unfortunately it was 8km to Arzua. I was really quite a way off track! The walk along the road was wonderful through tall eucalyptus forest.
The mist came and went amongst the trees and there was total silence. It was comforting that I was finally heading back to the Camino. Last night had been an adventure but it was time to regain the goal. Entering the village there was the strange sight of a man leading a sheep, a cow and a horse along the middle of the deserted street.
Incessant barking of chained up dogs surrounded me — a feature of the North of Spain that I found disturbing. Finally in Arzua there was a good cafe to stock up on coffee and pastries. By now the dense fog was starting to lift and on leaving the cafe the sky was blue.
