762 km down , 1 day and 18 km left ... today was the day we really got swept up In the tide of Pilgrims surging to Santiago... we met priests who were leading a group of over 250 young people to santiago from Sarria for their Compostela . . it was such a well run logistical exercise we were amazed -.. but The general noise & frivolity caused us to Yearn for those quieter times . Though we had left early our strategy became one of falling to the back and letting the commotion pass us by, it sort of worked , I admit I did pop in the earphones for a time.
It was again a foggy, muggy & cloudy day , cooling down later as the fog was blown away. It was a very pleasant 21km walk through mostly Gumtree lined paths and small hamlets. Some gums had grown quite tall and some had interesting thoughts inscribed on them (see pic). the constant smell of Eucalyptus and gum leave covered paths kept my thoughts flicking back to home . . partiulaty for my mate Grahame who's condition has deteriorated ... it certainly makes you realise just how far away you really are in there situation's but we know God is still but a breath away and hears all our prayers.
The reality of the dangers of the Camino, more specifically mixing busy highway traffic & pilgrims together, was bought home to us today at the 22 km mark where a pilgrim was killed about a month ago. It was a busy highway which you have to cross and with cars & trucks travelling at highway speed and young Pilgrims scrambling across with packs we almost saw an incident whilst we were there.
So in reflecting on days 22 to 32 it was so dominated by the Meseta in all it pain and beauty...from cobbled stoned Roman roads (ouch...can still feel that) to the feeling of walking off the Meseta into A day off in Leon's monastery (and 3 star Pax hotel)...but so much more..every step..every changing landscape and the Camino community.
So here we are..half a days walk till we reach Santiago's Cathedral with a flood of others..some travelling long some short but all with a story of their own Camino...we have sooo many.
As thoughts turn to relaxing, shopping.. travelling to Finisterre (by bus)...ultimately a plane to Paris..then home I wonder if we will bump into long lost Camino friends who have moved on as we took days off...has the Camino one last surprise?
It was again a foggy, muggy & cloudy day , cooling down later as the fog was blown away. It was a very pleasant 21km walk through mostly Gumtree lined paths and small hamlets. Some gums had grown quite tall and some had interesting thoughts inscribed on them (see pic). the constant smell of Eucalyptus and gum leave covered paths kept my thoughts flicking back to home . . partiulaty for my mate Grahame who's condition has deteriorated ... it certainly makes you realise just how far away you really are in there situation's but we know God is still but a breath away and hears all our prayers.
The reality of the dangers of the Camino, more specifically mixing busy highway traffic & pilgrims together, was bought home to us today at the 22 km mark where a pilgrim was killed about a month ago. It was a busy highway which you have to cross and with cars & trucks travelling at highway speed and young Pilgrims scrambling across with packs we almost saw an incident whilst we were there.
So in reflecting on days 22 to 32 it was so dominated by the Meseta in all it pain and beauty...from cobbled stoned Roman roads (ouch...can still feel that) to the feeling of walking off the Meseta into A day off in Leon's monastery (and 3 star Pax hotel)...but so much more..every step..every changing landscape and the Camino community.
So here we are..half a days walk till we reach Santiago's Cathedral with a flood of others..some travelling long some short but all with a story of their own Camino...we have sooo many.
As thoughts turn to relaxing, shopping.. travelling to Finisterre (by bus)...ultimately a plane to Paris..then home I wonder if we will bump into long lost Camino friends who have moved on as we took days off...has the Camino one last surprise?
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