Today was our Final day of walking. We stayed in a Xunta albergue that is about 17k from Santiago so the walk is relatively short. a little less then 4 hrs.

W decided to start at 7:00am with our headlamps. This is a first for this camino. Our albergue is in a place called Outerio, which is basically a spot along the way up in the hills of Galicia. It is a Beautiful modern building. Except for the Hospitalero, Francisco. Ed and I are the only pilgrims in the palace. Fernando told us that there were two pilgrims yesterday but no more today.

We walked until we found or first Bar which is about 200m off the camino. Carmen the owner made us an awesome plate for breakfast. We had a grilled cheese sandwich a piece of tarta De Santiago, another piece of cake and a cookie. The coffee was scooper hot. All and all very delicious. After breakfast she showed us her new albergue that she is building. It is really beautiful, 2 double rooms a kitchen, lavadora and secadora, men’s and women’s restrooms with showers and a bunk room. Each bunk bed has a light and 2 usb chargers.

As will all walked into Santiago the walk was up and down. Since Santiago is built on a hill I told Ed that we would be climbing a bit today. We crossed the railroad track at the point where the terrible AVE crashed occurred. There is still a memorial to the lost soles.

From there we climbed up the hill toward the university of Santiago and the down into The Valley before climbing up to Galicia plaza and walking along the old town to the Plaza de Obrigado.

Once there we took al of the pictures and then had a chance to meet Clinton. Ed and I checked into our hotel or should I say cell. It was small but had two beds and an on suite so that is a winner.

We then headed to the Cathedral for the Pilgrims mass which I always love. After Mass I went to Confession which is the culmination of my Camino.

I then ran up and took a shower and changed into some warmer clothes.

Finally, we walked down to the pilgrims office and got our Compostelas and certificates of distance. Over the two years that I walked this Camino I walked 1007k or about 620 miles. However, I know that I also took a train for 166k and a bus for mother 34k so I really walked closer to 800 which is still by any means an amazing accomplishment.

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Location:Santiago de Compostela

Today was our last long day on the Via de la Plata. It was a doozie. We started out at 7:30am and headed for the local bar for breakfast. By 8:20 we were on our way. The trail was beautiful but wet and muddy in many spots. Today we had rain, hail, sleet, and sun. Most of the morning was wet and cold. This afternoon it was partly sunny and not too bad.

We stopped a couple of times for coffee and of corse a bocadillo. After 30k we stopped at a little bar in Ponte Lleve for lunch. When we walked in the cook and her daughter were having their lunch. They welcomed us in and set a table for us. We had a delicious meal of empanada for starters and then steak and red peppers on a sizzling platter with a plate of fried potatoes. After a long walk it really hit the spot.

After lunch at around 4pm we walked to our albergue which is about 5k up the hill. We basically walked straight up for 5k to another Xunta albergue, this one in the true middle of now where. The showers are hot and Ed and I are the only two pilgrims in the place. Tomorrow we have 17k to Santiago. We are leaving here at 7am and hope to arrive by 10:30 or so.

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Location:Vedra,Spain

Today we started in Cea and walked to A Laxe 33k. The terrain is beautiful but the weather was terrible. From the time we left the albergue until the time we arrived in A Laxe it rained, sometimes hard and sometimes drizzle but always wet and cold.

This is the first time I have ever had water actually in my pack. Fortunately I have all of my pack contents in waterproof bags because there was actually a puddle of water in the bottom of my pack.

The albergue in A Laxe is a modern cement and wood building. Unfortunately, it leaks terribly. Fortunately not in the bedroom but mostly everywhere else. On the bright side the water is hot and the shower is great. We were able to wash and dry our clothes for about 5€ which in these conditions is a treat.

Tonight we had Clifford the cyclist from Brighton UK, and and new guy Lute from Germany. Lute was an interesting guy. He did not carry a sleeping bag so he piled up pillows from the extra beds as covers. The Xunta albergues don’t have blankets and to make things a little worse in some they turn the heaters off at night. I froze last night in my down sleeping bag and that is saying something.

Tomorrow is our last long day. We have 34k to Outerio.

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Location:A Laxe, Spain