May 28, Thursday, Fisterra

Well, out of Santiago and 2 days was great but enough. Noisy last night as the bars and cafes were hopping as Barcelona was playing Manchester United. They really get excited. I went to my room early to watched the game, but soon fell asleep but woke up with the hooting and hollering because Barcelona won. All good fun. Up early and had breakie with Bruce and he decided not to go to Fisterra or what´s know as ¨the end of the world¨. There is a ritual where you are to wash your clothes in the sea, then take them out to the Cabo de Fisterra and you can choose to burn an item. Well, I´m giving the proprietor of the hotel my clothes and he will wash and dry them. So, the other amazing thing to view from Cabo de Fisterra is the sunset. Looks like good condition today to see a good one. I will walk out to the Cabo and take some pictures. The bus ride was very enjoyable and relaxing. I don´t miss walking this route. I will meet Karen and Dayton here tomorrow and we will all go out to the Cabo de Fisterra. Now I am trying to get home early as I´ve done my Camino, and didn´t even buy a t-shirt. Still lots in my head flying around so maybe when everything is over and I´m home I can put it all together.
By for now.

Tuesday, May 25 Into Santiago

Well, finally made it to the cathedral on Monday and met Dayton and Karen and a lot of the other friends we met on the way from Saint Jean Pied de Port. Still can´t get my head around, I´m done, now I have to get home as don´t want to wait till June 8. D. and K. are walking to Finisterre today and will arrive there on Friday afternoon. I´m done walking and will take the bus to Finisterre and meet them to walk out to the end of the world (lighthouse). Friday, Saturday and Sunday was a whirlwind with me covering about 100 km just to get to Santiago to meet all the friends I started out with many weeks ago. The highlight of the journey was the journey and not the end. Although the pilgrim´s mass with everyone who completed the pilgrimmage was emotional and draining in a good way. (I have never been so drenched in all my life, as I was on Sunday). When I got my compostella, the girl asked me if I swam or walked the last few days. What a hoot. Sorry for being disjointed as not really into blogging right now. I am going to the square and just watch some of the pilgrims arrived. Time for quiet and reflection. Thanks for walking with me in spirit. And hope to see everyone soon.

Always remember hindsight is good, as long as you use good insight.

John

P.S. If I had to bring home one thing, what would it be? Any suggestions?

Friday, May 22, Triacastla to Sarria via Samos

Up and away at 7 am as looks like a little longer day as I want to see the Benedictine Monastery in Samos. Foot a little better so should be okay. It sure was a scary highway walking but once off and onto the forest path of narrow roadway was very picturesque. Cool and damp this am but sweating going up and down the hills. Met a lady who was taking time off from work, she is a priest in the Lutheran Church in Sweden. Walked for a little bit and then she move ahead. Great view of Samos coming in and the monastery is huge. It was closed when I was there so just walked around it and went into the store area and had a glimpse of what the inside would be like. It wouldn't be open till 4:30 am and this will be one place Linda and I will spend part of a day or maybe the night to view the inside. I then had a sweet cake and cafe con leche inside as I was damp and cold. Change my shirt and felt better but didn t know which was worse, the coolness outside or the cigarette smoke inside. Off for a long up and down walk through woods beside the river and into Calvor where I had tortilla lunch and it was freshly made. Just delicious. Last part form Calvor was hot and finally arrived at albergue for pigrims, 3 euro and very crowded and would not reccommend as not greatest facilities for drying clothes you've washed yourself. Off to Portomarin tomorrow. And off for a rest now.

For some reason I started singing Tiny Timś Little Arrows song and substituted with Yellow arrows everywhere, yellow arrows everywhere, All I see are yellow arrows everywhere... Thatś enough. So long.

Thursday, May 21 O Cebreiro to Triacastela

Well back on line for now. Foot ached in middle of night so did exercise of 1 advil, 400 mg and fell back to sleep. Left O Cebreiro around 7:30 and there was a mystic cloud just below O Cebreiro very Harry Potter type setting. Was waiting for the train from Hogsworth to come through the clouds and pick me up. Great views with the sun shining over the clouds and mountain tops and the valleys below. hard steep ascetn toAlto de Poio but at top a cafe and many pilgrims recooperating from the climb. Got my cafe con leche and took off my boots and rewrapped some toes, just for precaution. Lots of chit chat and very pilgrimmy. Foot better but won´t push it. Will get to Triacastela and rest. Can´t believe we´ve come this far. Beautiful vistas towards Triacastle and just as getting close a herd of cattle came around the corner stopping all of us dead cold. I was like the running of the bulls in Pamplona only I call it the slogging of the cows in Triacastle. Got to the albergue in Triacastle and then got lunch and dinner stuff. Very quiet here so will rest and maybe go for a short jaunt to see what´s out there. Called Linda and Olivia and had a nice chat. Here are some álways´one might want to consider on the Camino

1. Always put the toilet lid seat down when climbing over the door.
2. Always don one thing at a time.
3. Always assume there are pits in the olives.
4. Always take extra toilet paper to the bathroom.
5. Always look behind you at what you´ve missed.
6. Always think óne step at a time´.
7. Always say, Hola, Gracias, Perfavor, and Adios.
8. Always assume you´ve forgotten something.

I speak from experience. See ya. Off to Samos or Sarria tomorrow.

Astorga Festival

Day 21, Friday, May 15, Mazarife to Astorga, 7H, 30.1 km

Headed out on my own from Mazarife and cold morning. While walking up a long bouldery track, I felt something pull in my instep. By the time I got to Astorga it was painful. Rested and then took in the religious/agrucultural festival. Groups of people from all over the area were getting organized to walk through the city and end up at the catherdral. Could not believe the flag masts and colourful flags along with the bands. Quite the site. Followed them to the cathedral and went inside and watched the mass service. Quite a beautiful cathedral. The festival was to pray for rain in the spring for a good growing season. Some beautiful vistas on the way from Mazarife, and it still is a wonderful world. Short blog as have to rest my heel.

Day 22, Saturday, May 16, Astorga to Foncebadon, 7H 15 min, 27.5 km

Heel still painful but only when I stop walking. Did not take many pictures or record much as was concentating on the walk up the ascent to Foncebadon. What a spectacular walk and did not even worry about the pain. Stopped quite often just to stare at the mountain and valleys below. Saw Karen and Dayton about 2 km away, believe it or not, and yelled at them Hola, and Karen yelled back, What do you want. You can pick out the energizer bunny from that far away and her sherpa behing her. Started raining just at crest of hill going into Foncebadon and we were cold and damp. Booked into a quaint, ¨hippy¨albergue, small , but quite cozy. A great day and my heel is feeing much better. Should be okay in a couple of days, so am being very careful walking. So, don´t worry, all is fine and we are looking forward to salad and paella tonight. And early to bed. Hope to get to Ponferadda tomorrow.

New format for blog. Short and just the highlights. Dayton bought some black foot ham I mentioned before (patnanegra) Very rich but not that unusual. Couldn´t really taste the acorns.