Day 25 to O Pedouzo

28 September 2023 Day 25 destination O Pedouzo 20km - last full day of walking. 35 km overall to Santiago

No Internet tonight update tomorrow

Left strained ankle hanging in there. Caderas (hips) feeling the effects of the pounding with my 10kg full mochila. I chose not to use backpack transfer services as my back felt pretty good all along.

Today, Thursday, the last full day of walking, we are definitely on the Peregrino ‘autobahn’ today. They’re as far as the I can see in front of me, and behind me -a lot of loud conversation, loud singing kind of like having five or six foreign language radio stations all on at the same time -no criticism just an observation.

The reason, for the major optic in traffic is due to the fact that many peregrinos choose to start walking in the town of Sarria

Holger chose to get completely off the Camino today and walk the highway alone on the shoulder, with nobody in front nobody behind -no jabber talking no smoking he’s alone, which is where he wants to be right now

That being said, it was an eye-opener that there are a lot of fashionable peregrinos with brand new, beautiful designer clothing, mini-mochilas and trendy spandex bright patterned tights, color matched to the backpack 😵‍💫etc. like I said, just an observation no judgment

Today there was definitely competition for the space inside my head, the sensory ‘noise’ tries to intrude

I was frustrated that now we are getting close to the finish line there is more gaudy commercialization, and the ubiquitous graffiti including that feel the need to deface with graffiti the Camino markers as we get closer to the goal line.

I tune it out. They. don’t get it, but at least they’re walking on the Camino.

I took very few pictures today like Holger. I was just not in the zone, but we got to one place on the way and this man was trying to bring us all back to our senses. Even then, there were those that were jabbering and trying to get their cello stamp on their pilgrim passport. They completely missed the point of the moment. it was a sad juxtaposition

See below

“every moment you choose to live consciously is a question and an answer at the same time”

I was here two years ago to the day!. I can’t believe it so I went into the courtyard for some tapas wondering how my friend was since he was walking alone on the highway lo and behold he shows up 20 minutes later as I was walking out -so much for continuing walking the Camino, and getting to the next destination with no more alcohol. We sat down to reflect on a different kind of day

What a coincidence that he would find me in this back courtyard garden, putting on my backpack, getting ready to walk out the back door alone so we record the following for you with a sense of humor since we killed the better part of a bottle of wine!!

We call such coincidences Camino magic