Nearing the End

CAMINO STAGE 33: Arzua to O Pedrouzo Camino Primitivo route merged with Camino Frances on El Camino De Santiago. 14 miles, Day 35, 2 days to go

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

I was told to be prepared for the emerging hordes and bus loads of 100 km Camino walkers when the Camino Primitivo merged into the Camino Frances. I was not prepared to climb the first hill and see this….

• 

• 

• 

We chose the Camino Norte and Caminó Primitivo to be alone in nature. This was our usual view and we enjoyed the solitude and tranquility.

Upon reaching the crowds, we started passing people right and left, and eventually found our Camino Primitivo friends. They looked as shell shocked as we felt. We stopped at a cafe for sodas and to decompress. When the café filled with the pristine shoes and mini packs of the 100 km walkers, we the footsore, bedraggled 800 km peregrinos hit the trail again and were soon accompanied by three little dogs that followed for miles.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Feeling a bit overwhelmed as more crowds appeared in front of us, I focused on the seemingly insignificant—cats, ducks, colorful doors and flowers that appeared on the Camino. I was even grateful for a wrong turn that gave us a reprieve from the crowds.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

We bumped into new friends, Dave & Heather from Connecticut, that shared the same names as our dear friends from Brazil. I had a thought drop in my head that we were Pooh Bear, Piglet, Tigger, Owl and Eeyore dropped in the “Hundred Acre Woods” on the Camino, just trying to make our way. We each had our strengths to help each other. These friendships, more than anything else, were what helped us endure, thrive, laugh and carry on.

“‘Friendship,’” said Christopher Robin, ‘is a very comforting thing to have.’” AA Milne

Tomorrow we finish our last leg and we will start walking in the dark, with headlamps on, to make it to the Santiago cathedral before noon. The trail is supposed to be like a Black Friday sale with everyone jostling and maybe a little impatience. I take calming strength from Milne again :

“Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there…”