Pilgrims on Enroute to the End of the Earth

June 13, 2024 – Negreira – A Picota – 30 kms – Hostal Camino Finisterre

June 14, 2024 – A Picota – Muxia – 30 kms – Pousadas Mariñeiras Camino de Barca

June 15, 2024 – Muxia – Laxe – 32 kms – Hostal Bahía

June 16, 2024 – Laxe – Corme – 27 kms – Apartment Touristico Playa de Orso

I love the vibe on the Caminos that continue from Santiago to the sea, ending at either Finisterre or Muxia. For some, the sea, or Finisterre (the end of the earth) is a more important destination than Santiago. 

The pilgrims on this route are often effervescent and eager to talk about their Camino experiences, drawing meaning from what they have done. I love hearing their stories and impressions, especially if it’s their first Camino.  

A.J. from  New Zealand walked her first Camino on the Norte. She walks part of the time with her mom on FaceTime. She and her mom were planning to do the Camino together when Covid hit and their trip was canceled. The long flight was too much for her mom this year, but she gets out and walks in New Zealand so that she can walk her Camino too. I met her mom briefly, but with the time difference she was already in her dressing gown and heading to bed. What she doesn’t know is that A.J. has been getting stamps for her mother along the way and when she returns to Santiago she hopes to get her a Compostela as well. 

James from England, and his amazing dog Archie, have been walking for three months from Barcelona. James explained that he was walking the Camino partly to give Archie a rites of passage as he grew into his adult dog self. Archie and James communicate beautifully with each other. Archie has a huge vocabulary and understands left and right better than I do. Their challenge now is to find a ride back to Barcelona where he has left his van. He wondered if I would drive a rental car for him, because he unfortunately left his passport in the van and can’t rent one himself. 

In spite of the numbers of pilgrims on the Camino Francés, Tom, from England had a wonderful experience and is planning to return to Portugal to walk from Porto in the fall. His enthusiasm was echoed by other pilgrims that walked the Francés. 

Gord and I recognize the loss of not having a pilgrim community for much of our Camino. Yesterday we left Muxia and walked on to Laxe, once again the sole pilgrims on our route