After 24 days of walking, and just when I think the Camino has shown everything it could possibly offer, there’s always something more to experience. Walking in the Galician region of Spain is mountainous, lush green and beautiful. While the Navarre and Castille regions seemed big with grape vineyards, the Galicia region seems big on Dairy cows and cheeses.

Around Ocebreiro, the mountain top town with Celtic heritage, the mountains capture the warm, moist Atlantic winds. As the air rises, clouds form and the area is often foggy and drizzly. That was definitely the case as we departed early this morning. It was beautiful walking through the fog and watching it pass through the forests. It rained the first 3 hours of today’s 13 miles, so we had rain coats, overpants and waterproof hiking boots on. It was fun and pleasant crossing the mountain ridges in the light rain. As we passed the mountain summit and began our slow descent to Triacastela, the further we got away from the mountain summit, the more the weather improved until after several miles the sun was shining on the winding country roads through the most beautiful grass hillsides with cows grazing in every direction I could see. At one point a local farmer ans his wife were herding about 20 or so cows to one of the mountainous grass pastures. The cows passed right by me on the narrow Camino de Santiago. I can’t tell you how much I loved having these beautiful large animals walk so close past me. The rest of the walking day was through this terrain. Occasionally, as I walked through villages, I noticed Celtic old buildings like we’d seen in Ocebreiro.

After reaching Triacastela, I stopped into a cafe and ordered some of the freshly made cheese the Ocebreiro area is well known for, made from the dairy cows in the area we’d just walked through. The cheese is fairly soft, mild and delicious drizzled with locally produced honey. I love all the new experiences the Camino offers to those willing to partake and enjoy.

Camino friends in Ocebreiro, starting our walking day.

Hiking to the mountain summit out of Ocebreiro

Church near mountain summit in Ocebreiro area

The peak and summit of today’s mountain pass, foggy and drizzly.

I loved the lush green Mountain landscapes between Ocebreiro and Triacastela.

Mountain village on today’s Camino

Celtic style building

Tree lined Camino leading to Triacastela

Local farmer taking dairy cows to pasture

Local farmers taking dairy cows to grass pastures

Happy, grass eating cows make for awesome cheese

Cows seem happier in Spain with these views and grasses

Medieval village church on Camino between Ocebreiro and Triacastela

Local Dairy farmer tending her cows in the grass pastures.

Small village church between Ocebreiro and Triacastela

The local dogs seem so relaxed they sleep in the streets.

Grove of trees entering Triacastela on Camino de Santiago

Red door on house in Triacastela

Town church in Triacastela Spain