Done! Fisterra

We walked 870 kilometers from France to the End of the World.  Arriving yesterday after walking over 40 kilometers, we were tired but feeling good!

Hiking boot statue!

The hike yesterday was one of the best, even though we were sort of lost for the first several kilometers.  It's what I get for bragging about staying on track in the dark the day before!

One thing I've learned on this Camino, is how superstitious I can be!  Just like the two days of getting a taste of what I was so happy we avoided the day before, lots of little things seem to have an effect on our environment.  Like yesterday when the clouds cleared long enough for Wig to dig out his sunglasses, just to get really dark and cover the sun as soon as he put them on. Then it started to sprinkle enough for me to dig out my rain poncho, and, of course the rain stopped as soon as I put it on!  We start doing things like wearing rain pants just so it won't rain!

Wig has been reluctant to brag, but now I will, since we are done....he may be the only person in history to walk the Camino without getting a single blister!  He is a walking machine!

Today we relaxed, and walked a little around the town of Fisterra. 

Back to Santiago by bus tomorrow and home in a couple of days. 

Day 2: Oliveiroa

Well, after bragging about missing most of the rain yesterday, we got super soaked today!  We left really early to avoid some of the rain, and walked almost half of our 34 kilometer day nice and dry. It was a bit hard to find the route in the pitch dark, but we managed to keep on course. We were eventually rewarded with a foggy, quiet sunrise!

We left so early, that there wasn't a place open for breakfast, and the first place with a cafe was three hours down the trail.  We saw a cyclist gnawing on a cob of the abundant corn along the road, so we tried it too...almost broke our teeth!

It's livestock feed, not food grade!

On that note, it is harvest time. So once the rain started seeping into our waterproof boots and through the seams of our ponchos, we had the additional fun game of dodge the giant tractors and corn chewers along one lane farm roads!

This is dairy country too, so the roads were coated in cow poop at times, adding additional challenges in our fun walking game! 

We sure enjoy walking in Spain!

Another horreo in front of our hostel. They are made out of stone here and the legs look like mushrooms!

Day one of Camino de Fisterre, Negreiro

We expected rain today. We hardly had any, woo hoo!  At one point we had to duck into a restaurant as the sky opened up.  Since we were there, we decided to eat lunch, and it was fabulous!

We got pulpo (the tasty octopus specialty of the region) scallops, and tempura peppers. It was all very good, and the gushing rain stopped when we were done eating. 

The sun even came out for the crossing of the beautiful bridge right by the restaurant. 

Looking back at our lunch spot

Looking upstream

Crossing

Looking back. 

The trails are mostly through lush green forests here. It was a wonderful walk today!

Day 35: Santiago!

We made it here!  775 kilometers of pure walking!  

Our first little glimpse of the cathedral as we walked into Santiago. 

We have been surprised and happy to meet up with several friends that we met along the way, but haven't seen for a while.  

In front of the cathedral, we met up with Julianna from Brazil and Jungie from Korea. Haven't seen them since the Meseta!  

Long day today and plans made for our first day of walking to the "End of the World" starting tomorrow. It's going to be hilly and rainy for the next few days of our adventure....I can't wait!  Good night!!

Days 33-34. Melide and Salceda

26 kilometers to Santiago!  Planning the three day walk to Finisterre on the coast after that.   

I think everyone should do this!  Walking as far as you can every day, makes you hurt, but it feels good!  So that's my prescription for happiness: walk as much as you can, eat good food when you are hungry, talk with interesting new and old friends...and enjoy the cafe con leche and vino tinto!  

The green team, Rod, Kristen and me. 

Food pics....

Beautiful salad today!

Big plate of meat for Wig

Great hamburguesas

Yummy paella

A pastry shaped like a Camino shell

Day 31-32: Renta and Ventas De Naron

Last night we stayed in a 250 year old farm house in a town called Renta. The town was basically just that house!  Very cozy!  

They had a nice example of a horreo. Old style grain storage structures, that are common in this part of Spain. 

As we left in the morning, ready for terrible weather, it was super nice!  

But the rain caught us and it came down hard for quite a while this afternoon. We stopped for lunch in Portomarin to wait out the worst of it. No wonder Gallica is so green!!

We have about 75 kilometers to go to get to Santiago. We will have plenty of time to continue on to the west coast of Spain   

The 100 kilometer mark gets lots of graffiti!

Say 28-30. O' Cebreiro and Triacastella

Some times it's just about walking...no breaks, no photos, no talking...just walking.  Today was like that. We did take one break, but that was only because it was too busy at the cafe in O Cebreiro to wait for the coffee!

After finally getting coffee we started down the trail and the rain started too.  So hunched down in our ponchos, trying not to slip on cow patties, we were left with no energy for talking!

Polished off twenty plus kilometers in record time!

Yesterday was beautiful. 

Leaving Villafranca. 

Lush green scenery in Galicia. The last Province of Spain for our trek. 

Lots of thatched roofs in O Cebero. 

Best dessert ever!  O Cebreiro cheese with honey!!

Flan in a Camino shell dish, for Wig

Day 28: Villafranca del Bierzo

Another great day!!

We are in another lovely Villafranca town! We caught up with Rod and Kristen. Had fun visiting all the churches in town with them this afternoon.  We went in an open door on the side of one church and found some fantastic carnival costumes!

On the way here, Wig stopped to say hi to the biggest dog ever...we thought he was a cow at first!

Vic and Kay had the biggest pastry ever with our first morning coffee stop!!

Resting up for a long uphill tomorrow. We might get good weather, as the rain forecast keeps moving a couple days in the future!!

Day 26-27. Foncebadon and Ponferrada

I love the plazas in Spain!  We just had a wonderful dinner at a cafe in a plaza in Ponferrada. It's relaxing and fun to watch people!  Tonight we watched two kids on a bike and a scooter weaving around pedesrians and fountains. The girl kept riding her bike right through the little fountain spouts. Looked like fun!

The church across the plaza lit up as we finished our dessert. 

We are finished with the Meseta and back into some hilly terrain. 

It feels good to go uphill!   

Today we went up and over the highest elevation of our trek. The Cruz de Ferro. It's a place to stop and contemplate. Maybe leave a rock or other memento to represent prayers or memories. We were there at sunrise. Very beautiful!

Yesterday we found a spring with icy cold water. We soaked our feet, and appreciated the view. It was a priceless break!!

On one of our breaks today, Wig took a little cat nap. He was demonstrating one of the multiple uses of Crocs!  

Ok. I'm tired!  Good night, from Ponferrada, Spain!

Day 25: Astorga.

Just asked Wig to check the maps. We have walked over 500 kilometers!  About 2/3 of the way to Santiago.  I haven't been paying attention to our totals until today, happy to just know how far to the next break!!  I'm surprised how much we have done, but I guess if you walk at least 20 kilometers a day for 25 days that's what you get!

Today, I was happy that I could even walk. My troublesome hip gave me some twinges of pain yesterday, and all evening it was stiff and sore every time I stood up after a rest. But I woke up feeling great this morning and didn't have any problems walking today. It was another gorgeous day!

Astorga is a beautiful city. We toured the Gaudi palace and museum last year, so this time we checked out the Roman museum. Lots of Roman history here, and there are some excavation sites around town. Fun!

The other claim to fame for this town is chocolate. But the chocolate museum was closed for remodeling. We were hoping to see it as we got here just as it closed last year too. Guess we just have to console ourselves with some more chocolate snacks on the trail tomorrow!!

Miss every one! Hope you are all well!!