Classic Albergue El Carmen in Nigeria

I am sorry but this Camino is really kicking my butt. A climb of 1000 feet today that seemed like it would never end thought would be the end of me I am so glad we did not attempt to do the entire Santiago to Negreira leg I one day. It is 25 Km with some of the steepest climbs anywhere on the Camino. We did it in two days and I am still questioning my ability o carry on. Tomorrow we plan to do 22 Km because the terrain is more forgiving That will put us in a position to get to Finisterre and Muxia by Sunday and get back to Santiago.

All climbing today. Elevation change over 1000 feet. I am holding the Colorado people back

The Cathedral de Santiago in the background

Lunch at Alto do Vento

Casa do Boi in Ventoso

Merci and Scott at kilometer zero

So with the family safely on their way to the train station for their return trip to Sarria and on to Madrid, Scott and Merci started out on our Camino Finisterre. The Hutchison’s are unfamiliar with the Camino and Spain so for me, they are a new audience and I have a chance to tell all my stories all over again. Unfortunately, this version of the Camino is all hills and telling the stories of the history of Spain require that I take a breath from time to time.

We started our day at kilometer zero in front of the Cathedral in Santiago and found our way out of town and the welcome yellow arrows that show us the way. Stopping for 1st breakfast only about 2 Km in, we had our classic cafe con le he and a nepolitano. Our first climb took us through very old trails (pictured) and a look out where we could look back at the Cathedral where we started. Continuing on we watched the numbers in the kilometer markers get smaller and smaller. When we came out of the eucalyptus forest to a street through a town we found a cafe for second breakfast only to discover that we were only a Km from our destination. I had purposely made reservations at an Albergue only about 15 Km from Santiago because I knew we were having a late start and I needed the rest after my last week of walking. So we had an early lunch and then walked in to our Albergue.

When one makes a blind reservation at an Albergue there is always concern that it will be straw bales in a barn somewhere. I did not want to have my classmate and his wife sleeping with the livestock. When we found the Albergue it was magnificent. Brand new and sparkling clean. It is modern with plugs, USB ports, reading lights over your pillow, washers and dryers. It is amazing. Just lucky I guess

The family made it safely to Madrid and checked into the hotel and are likely now having tapas in the Mercado de San Miguel. All is right with the world. Rain is expected tomorrow and for the next four days. Boo

An awful beginning to an end. With everyone packed and checked out on time the family waiting at the curb all hugged and goodbyes said Joe discovered that his reservation for the van to Sarria and the train to Madrid was made for tomorrow. After a few minutes of panic and doom, we were able to cancel the van for tomorrow and get a taxi to carry all to the train station in Sarria. Whew! I pray they make it before the train to Madrid departs. I will not know until the end of the day when I get WiFi again.

The Hutchison’s arrived on time and we are packed and ready to start the Camino Finisterre and a whole new adventure. Isn’t life grand!

Basking in our success