Camino Pilgrim

Fifth Camino done! 1007km was the official distance on the certificate. Based on my Camino app I averaged about 35km daily.

Its crazy to think how well it ended considering how much trouble there was on the first week. I was partially sick for about four days from the endless rainfall and water obstacles. Air temperatures varied 32°C between the coldest and warmest moments. throughout this Camino.

Fourth week I covered a new record of 282km. That makes 40+km daily on average. That feels absolutely impossible, but yet it happened.

Today I took it very casually from sunrise to Santiago. I wanted my legs to enjoy these final kilometers and if I hurried too much then I might catch pilgrim masses that started their final day 16km ahead of me.

I managed to walk almost the whole way to Santiago in solitude. I passed maybe forty or so pilgrims walking alone or in a pair and two larger groups of kids. I did start to notice a lot of people during the last 10km, but they were all sitting in the bars as I walked by.

The trail went endlessly from one small village to another today. In-between these villages I was almost always going through a forest. Very enjoyable day from start to finish.

I felt quite happy inside when I saw the bridge with blue handrails right next to the stone sign of Santiago. This is where I less than a year ago connected to the Frances.

I am starting to develop a routine where O sit down in a café like a kilometer before the mountaintop from where I can see across Santiago. I always want to feel my best once descending into the city and walking those last 4km into the Cathedral Square.

The pilgrims office keeps updating the system in how to get certificates. It was quicker than ever now. The line to get a hard paper protective case was still long though.

Overall, I am super happy that I decided to undertake this crazy long journey. Via de la Plata was definitely different from what I had done before. I do not plan to repeat this trail anytime soon though. There are still many more ideas on what to do and where to go.

Today, I am still a sweaty pilgrim. Tomorrow, when I wake up, I will be just another strange tourist with dirty clothes.

Until next time!