Santiago de Compostela

I asked Bilby to walk with me today so that we could do this last 20 km together. With my limping shortened gait and his much longer legs it was barely a stroll in the park for him.  The start was somewhat inauspicious as the promised rain fell and we got to use our ponchos that we’d been carting around since day 1.

I was back in boots today and it hurt but I figured it was better than having drenched feet. The first part of the track was unexpectedly lovely and the rain seemed to be keeping everyone spread out more than yesterday. We were frequently alone and the birds were heard again. As well as forest bagpipes.

We stopped for coffee at around the halfway mark, doing ok for pace and my foot bearable if not well.

Unfortunately Bilby inadvertently left his credencial in the bar – something he realised more than 2km down the road so a small detour was added to the proceedings while I sat down and actually prayed that after 200km and a collection of coveted sellos that he would actually find it.

Thankfully, he caught back up with me with 2 thumbs up and we carefully descended into Santiago. I found the park at Monte del Gozo beautiful and somewhat emotional looking at the cathedral in the distance.

The hobble into Santiago was slow and steady with the last km seeming to stretch interminably. But then we were at the portal to the Plaza de Obradoiro with the piper piping and my eyes became suspiciously blurry. You can know exactly what it should look like and can imagine what it will be but it’s such a joyful and emotional place.  We sat together on the ground and ate the last of the snacks we could find in our bags. A sense of completion. A sense of ultimate pride that despite so much physical difficulty it was done. And pride in my son for doing the whole thing without complaint and seeing the world differently.

We are so tired. Dad raced off to spend time with Mum and we finished the day with icecream. Life is good.

30606 steps

23.4 km

Total 254.5 km (198km official camino).