A big thank you to all of you who stayed with me all the Way, to those whom I’ve met along it, to those that wrote comments on the blog or sent me e-mails and to those who didn’t but still followed it.
To all of you whom, in one way or another were part of this wonderful journey.
A very special thank you to my parents and my family who were with me everyday.
The Sun came out and the World changed!
What was supposed to be a very short run had some 6km added to it when I took a “wrong” turn. It wasn’t that wrong in the end as I saw some beautiful bits of coastline.
When I got to the town of Fisterra, 3km from the lighthouse – the official end of the Camino – I took a little break and then, on the way up, I was flying and had a permanent smile on my face.
I eventually made it to the 0,00km marker and only a couple hundred metres separated me from the cliffs.
I just couldn’t stop smiling. It was too beautiful to handle in any other way.
Eventually I got to the end and ran down the rocks as far as it was safe to go.
What a feeling!
There was something left to do though and that wasn’t quite the end.
I then ran down to one of the two beaches of the peninsula, the one where the ocean breaks wild and untamed.
And it was here that, at 15:09, thirty days after leaving France, I felt that I had crossed the whole of Spain, from the Pyrenees to the Atlantic.
Day 30: 2:05:19 – 19.37km + 55:22 – 8.57km
Total: 3:00:41 – 27.94km
This was a very strange day. The first 19km went well despite the tight muscles but then disaster struck. The muscles all started cramping and the knee got so painful I had to stop. It was cold and raining and I just wanted to get to the albergue. The next 14km were a mixture of limping-running and attempts at proper running and the constant feeling that I would have to stop any moment and walk as the pain was too much.
There was some entertainment on the way though…
I eventually got into the albergue, into the shower and… left again!
Somehow I felt I should go on.
The little detail was – the next place to sleep was 19km away, across a big mountain, more wind and rain and without a single house after the first 3km.
I went for it and it all went well. At one point I felt the body starting to shut down and stopped to eat the only things I had – cheese slices and mint sweets. They worked wonders though.
I got to the town of Cee and tears came to my eyes when I first saw the bay – the Atlantic!
Nuestra Señora del Carmen, protector of sailors, being clebrated in Cee
I have the most painful legs in the whole of Spain but probably also the biggest smile.
Fifty two kilometres… I still find it hard to believe…
Day 29: 3:45:20 – 33.08km + 2:07:04 – 19.33km
Total: 5:52:24 – 52.42km
Almost half an hour more to do the same distance I completed yesterday. It was very hilly and the injuries are piling up.
My painometre has reached new heights today with every step of the way being a mental and physical struggle. I have very tight left calves, right quadriceps and the right hamstring seems to be on the verge of disaster since yesterday.
I will myself forward thinking that with each little step I am getting closer to the Atlantic.
Some 70km to go now and I hope they will be better than today.
The landscape is, once again, breathtaking and at times I’m able to forget the pain and immerse myself in the surrounding beauty.
After all these nights in dorms it’s also natural that, at last, I got a bit of a cold – more of a sore throat.
To add to the joy – and I forgot to mention this before – I got bitten by a dog two days ago. I was already taking evasive action so the teeth didn’t pierce through the skin. There’s no lack of action on the Camino!
From Santiago to Fisterra
Tomorrow’s stage will start with a long climb – you can see it here: http://caminodesantiago.consumer.es/etapa-de-negreira-a-olveiroa
After that it will be up and down all the way.
Looking forward to it already with fingers crossed for the injuries to go away!
Day 28: 2:45:12 – 24.00km
There was a strange atmosphere in the air this morning. People do this pilgrimage for all sorts of different reasons and the last day is, for most, a day of enormous antecipation.
Onwards to Santiago
I entered the cathedral, running, at 10:10am and the crouds were already everywhere.
The Compostela – a document written in Latin, certifying the completion of the Camino de Santiago
It was a difficult run as I felt very tired but I am very happy to have made it to Santiago.
Three more days to go onto Fisterra and the Atlantic!
Day 27: 2:19:38 – 24.00km
This was the last run over 30km for a couple of days and just as well.
The hills continue, short and sharp, and the whole body is begging for a break. With all the care taken to protect the left knee the right leg has worked overtime and now feels like stone… a painful sort of stone.
Leaving for Santiago tomorrow. The crouds are enormous but in those coming a long way there seems to be a different light in the eyes. For many it will be the end of their journey and a very special in their lives.
The Camino is full of such idyllic moments where new and old coexist in apparent harmony
Day 26: 3:16:32 – 32.81km
Photos from day 20 onwards are on now.
