August 22, 2018
I walked 22.86 miles today from Olveiroa to Muxia. Now I can say that I have walked from before the border of France and Spain to the Atlantic Ocean on the Camino de Santiago. One more day of walking and I will have completed 35 straight days of walking. It is hard to believe and even harder to believe that physically I have been fine the entire time—no major blisters, no significant aches and pains, etc.
The people I knew on the Camino were going to Finisterre so I knew I wouldn’t have my typical dinner partners or people on the trail. I walked most of it alone but had great encounters with three women.
Michelle from the Czech Republic was the first I met. What inspired me the most about her was that she just finished high school and walked the Primitive Route to Santiago. That means she was basically alone the entire time. The Primitive Route is not as long as The Way of St. James and there are few people on it. We separated when the trail split for Muxia and Finisterre.
I met 26-year old Paula later. She actually turns 27 on August 23rd. I hope I see her on the trail so I can wish her a happy birthday. Paula is from Spain and has hiked four parts of the Camino—The Primitive Way, The Portuguese Way, The French Way from Sarria when she was 18, and the entire French Way this year. Paula works in Belgium today.
It was a hot day until I got next to the ocean. After that it was actually comfortable to cool.
I found a private room and met Hilda from Lithuania. She is a recent university grad and will be starting a career as a speech pathologist. What I admired most about her was her passion for HER Camino. She shared there was a 3-day period of time where she did not talk. If someone tried to talk, she would listen but let them know she was not speaking at that time. She was also committed to walking alone each day since she felt strongly that more insight is gained by being unplugged and present while walking. She used her time in the albergue to socialize.
Overall, a great day and met some great people. I continue to be grateful for this incredible experience.
The photo by the way was taken at the highest point in Muxia. You can see much of the town and a cross. At the cross are several things that pilgrims leave behind which is a tradition. I am sure I will see more of this in Finisterre.
And I apologize for not posting earlier. I had a stomach bug and quit early. So I am doing this in the morning before my Day 35 walk. I was hoping to see a sunrise at Muxia but the clouds are heavy. So I will start my walk now. Buen Camino.
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See additional photos from August 22nd below:
Brief descriptions of the photos:
This is a stone shoe sculpture outside the hotel where I stayed the the previous night.
This is a church in the hamlet of A Grixa.
This is part of the trail I walked.
This is part of the trail I walked.
This is a church in the village of Quintáns.
This is a view from the trail.
This is another hórreo along the trail. Again, you see a lot of them like this that have religious symbols on them.
This is part of the trail I walked.
This is my first view of the ocean. If you look closely in the distance you can see the lighthouse at Muxia.
This is a view of Muxia from the outskirts.
This is a structure next to a church (Iglesia de Santa María de Muxía) in Muxia.
This is a marker identifying the end of the road in Muxía at kilometer 0.00 near the church and lighthouse at the end of the peninsula.
This is the church at the end of the peninsula next to the lighthouse in Muxia. I believe this church is called Nosa Señora da Barca.
This is the inside of the church--Nosa Señora da Barca.
This is another view of the church Nosa Señora da Barca.
This is the lighthouse in Muxía.
This is another view of the church Nosa Señora da Barca.
This is a view of the harbor in Muxía from the highest point on the peninsula. Notice the shoes and other items left by pilgrims at the cross.
This is a view of the harbor in Muxía from the highest point on the peninsula. Notice the shoes and other items left by pilgrims at the cross.
This is a view of Muxía from the highest point on the peninsula.
The sunset in Muxía near the church Nosa Señora da Barca.
The sunset in Muxía near the church Nosa Señora da Barca.
This is a trail after sunset from the lighthouse back into the city of Muxía.
This is the certificate I received from the Pilgrim's Office in Muxia.