18th stage to Melide

Today I woke up at 5 a.m. and then went over to the kitchen to do my routine: get dressed, pack my backpack and make breakfast. I eat my baguettes in a relaxed manner and enjoy the peace and quiet. Even though it's so early, it's not really cold. I left at 5:30. It feels like I'm leaving earlier every day. Tomorrow I have a shorter stage. Let's see if I can go later. But when I'm awake, I see no reason not to go. I had to go through the city and then back down to the bridge and then into the forest. It was a steep climb and again the ground was muddy and waterlogged. But I've gotten used to it and always just look for the best route. You have no other option, so always make the best of it. So I continued through the forest and didn't see any other pilgrims. Then we continued along the country road for a bit. It slowly became light and I was still in a good mood, even though my shin on the right hurts a little. I actually wanted to continue walking after I arrived in Santiago, but right now I'm thinking to myself, get there first and then chill out. But one by one. As I looked on the map, Palas de Rei was in front of me, but I needed a break. That's why I treated myself to the nearest bench and had my second breakfast there and relaxed. The sun came out and I took off my jacket. Then it continued and somehow I couldn't really get going after that. I was a little tired and slow, but I kept running anyway. And then I reached Palas de Rei. And to be honest, I imagined the city to be bigger than it actually was. Although I just walked through and it was still morning. But I only discovered one open bar, but I had my break before that. And since I still had almost 16 kilometers to go, I continued running. The path partly went through forests, but also repeatedly through small villages and many hostels. Of course there are more hostels in the last 100 kilometers because more people are taking this route and some paths connect, for example in Melide the Camino francés connects with the Camino primitivo. Most of the hostels were nicely decorated again, but mostly closed. Then I was in thought and it got warmer and warmer. Every now and then I met a few pilgrims and two also overtook me. After a phone call I saw Melide in the distance, my destination for the day. And my hostel Arraaigos is right on the way. At first I couldn't find it because you have to go up one floor. But it is lovingly furnished and also well equipped with a kitchen. It is a large room with 20 beds, but the room is divided by room dividers. After the shower I went out into the sun and sunbathed. Afterwards I went shopping and put together my dinner. I already have accommodation for tomorrow and tomorrow I'll eat out again because it's Sunday. There are currently 4 people in the room, but they are out and about or sleeping. Then I chilled in my bed and planned tomorrow and what I would do when I arrived in Santiago. I have so many options, but I definitely want to relax and chill for at least 2-3 days to reflect on the journey. But I don't know yet whether I'll do it in Oviedo or in Muxia. And the question is whether I should treat myself to a single room and a group accommodation like usual. A single room is great, but if I'm out there anyway, then I don't need a single room, but I'll take a look right away and won't until tomorrow or Monday anyway decide.