Sarria-29th Sept. to 1st Oct
Arrived at last in Sarria where I have to meet the girls. I am a little ahead of schedule at this stage because I did not want to stay in some of the places on the way here and kept walking to the next village or town. I stayed in an Alberge last night which was not that great and was a bit nervous of bed bugs. I had met a very large Dane who had been attacked by bed bugs and he was in a state with bites all over his body hands and legs. It was gross,not at all like Irish bed bugs of the past which I remember clearly,but rather like mosquito bites. After Los Herrerias where I found the BB on my chest it took a day for me to find where the fecker had bitten me on my leg. I could only imagine the misery the dane was feeling,apart from the cost of medications. Having pointed out a nest of the BB to the owner of the Alberge,he just wiped it with his finger and didnt seem to mind too much! I pulled the bed out from the walls before I got in to sleep and had a fitfull night.Next day I booked in to the monastry to await the girls arival.
I found a wonderful Italian restaurante/bar on the main street and had a couple of great meals there. The monastry was really nice and so clean............On the morning of the girls arrival I scrubbed the kitchen in the monastry and washed the floor. Then headedoff to the supermarket for some food and breakfast for the girls before we left on the first day of walking the next morning. They arrived in at 10pm and had some tea and a chat before getting some shut eye.
Portmarin-Arzua... There are five stages before arriving into Santiago and we booked accomodation ahead based on the recommendation of the monastry staff who were very helpful. Portmarin was the first stop and the walk was 22k which went very well for the girls all things considered. They were surprised at the terrain and felt it was easier than they thought it was going to be. I smiled and agreed. The next day off we went to Palas de Rai another 22k and then Arzua on the third which was 29k. By this stage they were beginning to realise that it was´nt as easy as they thought. To get up every day and walk a minimum of 20k up and down hills and mountains enduring all sorts of weather required stamina and determination...........and then the blisters hit for Catherine. She took it in her stride but I knew it must have hurt. I had planned the last two stages in Santiago to be 19k and 20k over the last two days and this was just right for us. The terrain was still difficult for them with some steep ascents and descents but they got through it just fine.
Santiago-
It was a day of mixed feelings for me I must say. I was coming to the end of a long journey and I was delighted in one sense and sad in another. I spent the last day walking and reflecting on the journey itself and I found it difficult to get perspective on the whole thing. I could focus on smaller issues and lessons I learned along the way,some changes I will make in my life etc.. but I reckon I will have to wait a while untill I get some perspective on it.
We really pushed on the last stage as Catherine said that they lock the church at twelve for the pilgrim mass. So we got up at 5.30 am and start walking from O Pedrouza to get to Santiago on time. I didnt want Catherine to be dissappointed and miss the mass,so really pushed as we came into Santiago with just 15 minutes to spare but we made it. The entry therefore was about getting to the church on time rather than the arrival at the final destination. It was OK as it was a conscious choice to do that for me.
Later we sat in the square in the glorious sunshine and just drank in the scene. Someone said arriving after the walk is a bit of an anti climax..............Jury is out on that one...maybe today I will go back one last time before I go home,I will let you know.......................
Arrived at last in Sarria where I have to meet the girls. I am a little ahead of schedule at this stage because I did not want to stay in some of the places on the way here and kept walking to the next village or town. I stayed in an Alberge last night which was not that great and was a bit nervous of bed bugs. I had met a very large Dane who had been attacked by bed bugs and he was in a state with bites all over his body hands and legs. It was gross,not at all like Irish bed bugs of the past which I remember clearly,but rather like mosquito bites. After Los Herrerias where I found the BB on my chest it took a day for me to find where the fecker had bitten me on my leg. I could only imagine the misery the dane was feeling,apart from the cost of medications. Having pointed out a nest of the BB to the owner of the Alberge,he just wiped it with his finger and didnt seem to mind too much! I pulled the bed out from the walls before I got in to sleep and had a fitfull night.Next day I booked in to the monastry to await the girls arival.
I found a wonderful Italian restaurante/bar on the main street and had a couple of great meals there. The monastry was really nice and so clean............On the morning of the girls arrival I scrubbed the kitchen in the monastry and washed the floor. Then headedoff to the supermarket for some food and breakfast for the girls before we left on the first day of walking the next morning. They arrived in at 10pm and had some tea and a chat before getting some shut eye.
Portmarin-Arzua... There are five stages before arriving into Santiago and we booked accomodation ahead based on the recommendation of the monastry staff who were very helpful. Portmarin was the first stop and the walk was 22k which went very well for the girls all things considered. They were surprised at the terrain and felt it was easier than they thought it was going to be. I smiled and agreed. The next day off we went to Palas de Rai another 22k and then Arzua on the third which was 29k. By this stage they were beginning to realise that it was´nt as easy as they thought. To get up every day and walk a minimum of 20k up and down hills and mountains enduring all sorts of weather required stamina and determination...........and then the blisters hit for Catherine. She took it in her stride but I knew it must have hurt. I had planned the last two stages in Santiago to be 19k and 20k over the last two days and this was just right for us. The terrain was still difficult for them with some steep ascents and descents but they got through it just fine.
Santiago-
It was a day of mixed feelings for me I must say. I was coming to the end of a long journey and I was delighted in one sense and sad in another. I spent the last day walking and reflecting on the journey itself and I found it difficult to get perspective on the whole thing. I could focus on smaller issues and lessons I learned along the way,some changes I will make in my life etc.. but I reckon I will have to wait a while untill I get some perspective on it.
We really pushed on the last stage as Catherine said that they lock the church at twelve for the pilgrim mass. So we got up at 5.30 am and start walking from O Pedrouza to get to Santiago on time. I didnt want Catherine to be dissappointed and miss the mass,so really pushed as we came into Santiago with just 15 minutes to spare but we made it. The entry therefore was about getting to the church on time rather than the arrival at the final destination. It was OK as it was a conscious choice to do that for me.
Later we sat in the square in the glorious sunshine and just drank in the scene. Someone said arriving after the walk is a bit of an anti climax..............Jury is out on that one...maybe today I will go back one last time before I go home,I will let you know.......................
