Tales from the Trail

Well after 800 kms and 32 days of walking, I finally arrived in Santiago de Compostela Spain yesterday.  The mind and body are still both working although the continuous wind and rain for the last 2 days has tested both. Despite the bad weather forecast I’m back on my feet in the morning to walk another 89 kms a coastal town called Finisterre – the place where the old pilgrims believed was the end of the world.

Here are a few more pics of the trip.

Astorga cathedral

The bell tower

A typical alburgue accommodation. Actually this one was one of the better ones as it had mattresses on the floor as well as bunk beds.

Cruz de Ferro. A famous landmark on the Camino, originally to help pilgrims find their way across the mountains. Traditionally each pilgrim adds a stone, bought from home, to the huge cairn below the cross

A little town called Molinaseca – for me one of the most picturesque on the walk

Another early morning sunrise

The outside of a small refugio where I stayed one night high up in the mountains (4 kms before O’Cebreiro for those that have done the walk). The owners provided a communal dinner which was a 3 course vegetarian meal – no small feat in Spain where a vegetable soup still comes with floating hock or bacon.

Lets just say the inside the accommodation was rather rustic….

There were 5 beds, mine was on the left hanging from the ceiling. The stairs at the back of the room led to a suspended bathroom. One lukewarm shower and a drop toilet that also doubled up as the shower drain. Needless to say when I dropped the soap in the shower, there was no way that soap was going to be found again!

Another one of my bed

Early morning light at O’Cebreiro

A cold and misty start from high up in the mountains of O’Cebreiro

A fellow pilgrim looking out at the path still to be travelled

More of the path

Yep, I’m still heading in the right direction

8am. Last morning of the walk to Santiago. Still dark, cold, wet and windy.

Yep, more of the same

Arrived at the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela – soaked to the bone but here at last!