Muxia to Fisterre

Fisterre translated means the end of the earth. In Roman times when the earth was thought to be flat, this was the end of the world. After seeing it for myself, it’s not so far fetched. The sea is expands out in a haze and appears to fall off. Sailors would leave the relatively calm waters and enter the Atlantic Ocean and were never seen again. It is also known to be the place where St. James disciples recovered his body and brought it to shore to be buried in Santiago.

I took a sunset boat ride to cap off my journey. It was stunning. The sky was ablaze with color! The picture with the lighthouse is the end of the trail. There was another fiesta last night. I am not sure they ever sleep in Spain and Portugal! This one resembled Halloween. Everyone was dressed in costumes and partying in the streets. In the video you can hear the music from the fiesta.

Fisterre is also the end of the trail. I have followed that red line for days on end. And today I came to the end of it. I climbed onto the rocks and looked back at all of my prior posts and yearned to be home. I held the rock I have been carrying since I began. I prayed and thanked God for my journey and for bringing me here. This has been a life changing experience. It’s something, if I am being truthful, that I never actually believed I would finish. It was not easy. Sometimes it was not fun. I haven’t walked more than 8 miles a day, since I arrived in Santiago and my feet still hurt when they hit the floor every morning. My body is stronger. My faith has had a re-birthing of sorts. I am incredibly grateful for every step and every word of encouragement and prayer lifted up for me that you all have given to me. There were so many lonely days when I read the messages and felt love and connection. Thank you for walking beside me on this journey. Steve has been my steady stream of support. I was able to talk to him daily and strategize my route, talk about the day and hear him tell me he believes in me and my ability to do this. I am so lucky to be loved so well.

Camino by the numbers-
29 days
566.2km
352 miles
704,789 steps
2 blisters
1 shin splint
1 day with heart rate ridiculously high
1 day with a washing machine
1 lost item (a sock)
25 alburgues and hotels
Dozens of new friends from around the world
Thousands of memories for a lifetime

Tomorrow I travel by bus to Santiago and then by plane to Lisbon. I will fly to the states on Tuesday. I cannot wait to be with my family. There is a Camino bug people catch and they keep feeling the pull to journey the Camino again and again. Most of the pilgrims I met were on their third or more Caminos. I don’t know yet if I have caught the bug, right now I am focused on being home!Read more