If you go to this site, you will be able to read my blog from beginning to end with all the days in the right order:
https://kathrynscamino.wordpress.com/2017/?order=asc
Now that the trip is over, it makes more sense than starting at Finisterre and reading the trip backwards, and having some of the days out of order!
Finisterre – the end.
We took a bus to Finisterre and stayed the night. A fantastic way to finish because the weather was great and we could relax. We walked the 3km to the end of the land:
The next morning we walked to the bay on the other side of the Fisterra peninsula (just a 10 minute walk) and had a glorious swim in the clear water.
Swimming in the Atlantic Ocean was a beautiful way to end our journey.
Thank you for reading this Camino blog. I’ve said very little here about the more personal aspects of this trip – my feelings, and what the trip has meant to me personally. For me it’s been fun, hard work, full of laughter, with some pain and some tears thrown in, eye-opening as I’ve come to understand myself and others better, and wonderful to meet new people and make new friends from all over the world. It has been a deep personal journey as well as a hard physical journey, but you’ll have to talk to me personally if you want to know more about that!
Special thanks to Geethal, who supported me in this venture and rang me daily to show his support and love, and to Andrew, my companion in life for over 58 years (if you include the in utero period), who shared this special walk with me. We had fun.
O Pedrouza to Santiago, 21km.
We made it!
Had an early start because we wanted to arrive at Santiago in time to go to the pilgrims’ mass at midday. Arrived at 11.15. We walked in with friends – Heidi, Lyobo and Elena ( a young Bulgarian couple whom we’ve seen a lot of over the last few days), and a retired NZ couple.
Arzua to O Pedrouza, 20 km
My knee felt much better when I woke this morning – a relief, because I had been thinking seriously the night before I might be needing to take a bus. Voltaren, Panadol, having the pack carried, a little bit of walking backwards down the steep hills, and singing Simon and Garfunkel got me through the day fine. By the end of the day only 20 km to Santiago.
We had a lovely roadside picnic, and this is the photo taken afterwards (I have been having selfie-taking lessons from Andrew).
Palas del Rei to Arzua, 30km
Another long day, but we started early and managed to arrive by 4pm. Unfortunately my knee, which had been pretty good for most of the day, became very sore for the last 7km. Starting to wonder how the next two days will go…
We are getting very near to Santiago. Only 40 km to go now.
One of the very few public toilets to be found in this part of Spain:
Portomarin to Palas del Rei, 25km
We (Andrew, Heidi and I) all had our backpacks carried today because of various injuries we each have. My right knee is very sore at times and Andrew’s calf muscle has not improved at all over the last few days. The small cost of getting a pack carried in this region (3 euros) makes the idea is irresistible.
Last night we had a very nice albergue all to ourselves. What a treat! We didn’t have to be quiet for others nor did we have to be bothered by the noisy eccentricities of others.
Sarria to Portomarin, 21km
A shorter walk today – we needed it after the last few long days. Many new pilgrims today because Sarria is about 120 km from Santiago. A compostele (certificate of completion) is given to all who walk 100 km or more in to Santiago so walking from Sarria earns people the right to a compostele.
Triacastela to Sarria, 24km
Another long, but rewarding, day. We took the long route to Sarria via Samos so that we could do a tour of the monastery at Samos. It was built in the 6th century and it is now an albergue where pilgrims can stay, a church, a tourist attraction, and a monastery for Benedictine monks (including two novices, i.e. monks-in-training).
We didn’t arrive at our albergue till after 6pm – very tired by then.
La Faba to Triacastela, 26 km
Uphill for starters to O Cebreiro, where there was a 9th century church – beautiful and simple design.
Then some flattish trail, and some downhill. One of my knees is painful, but I was able to borrow a knee support from another walker (the one whose blister needed medical treatment) – the kind of give-and-take that happens often on the Camino. I was very grateful because the knee support made a huge difference.
A lovely day’s walking. The bed pressure hasn’t been a problem over the last 2 weeks, which means we can relax, take our time and roll up in the late afternoon if we want to.
Cacabalas to La Faba, 32 km
Another long day. We took our time, taking the scenic routes where there was a choice, stopping as required for refreshments, and didn’t arrive at La Faba till 6.40pm. Not a problem, though, because it’s still light here till after 10 pm.
Over the last few days we’ve been walking with a German friend, Heidi. Both Andrew and Heidi had leg injuries so made the wise decision to get their packs transported today. Great for me because I emptied most of my pack into their transported packs. It also meant we had to walk to La Faba because that’s where the packs were being delivered to.
Camino 2017 