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Mick Byrne

Joined April 2016
  • Mick ByrneVia De La Plata 2018
    Day36

    Return to Santiago de Compostela

    October 24 in Spain

    Return to Santiago de Compostela

    Distance Muxia to Santiago 89kms

    The return Camino from Muxia to Santiago was amazing. On leaving Muxia, I met a young German couple I walked with on the second day out of Seville. Unbelievable!
    The weather remained great for the last four days. All along the Caminos, I have shared meals, drinks, stories with lots of peregrinos. It has been wonderful.
    On the morning of my third day walking back to Santiago, l met another pilgrim l walked with on the Via de la Plata. He was walking to Finisterre. There are still a lot of pilgrims on the Caminos. Not many walk back from Finisterre or Muxia to Santiago.
    I have really enjoyed these last few days on my own. I am staying tonight in a private room in a huge Albergue.
    Tomorrow, I will travel to Lisbon where my beautiful wife will join me on Friday.
    So the remainder of today will be catching up with another pilgrim from Norway and a few beers.
    I have walked over 900kms.
    There have been highs and lows in terms of emotions and topography. The Caminos are mentally and physically challenging. The peregrinos, you meet, touch your heart and soul.

    ‘For we walk by faith, not by sight.’
    2 Corinthians 5:7

    Thank you all for your support and kind messages.

    Today was my 36th and last day on the Camino. 😎    Read more

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  • Mick ByrneVia De La Plata 2018
    Day32

    Finisterre to Muxia

    October 20 in Spain

    Finisterre to Muxia

    Distance 29kms ( 5.5 hours)

    A very crowded Albergue last night. Lots of noise and smelly peregrinos. I think I might actually be getting tired of the Camino or rather those that don’t take personal hygiene and washing their clothes seriously. I had to try to sleep next to a particular smelly peregrino last night. In the end, I gave up the will to live and got up at 7am. Sunrise wasn’t until 9am but I couldn’t stick it any longer.
    I was out the door by 7.30am and on the Camino to Muxia.
    I was so pleased to be just in the fresh air. The Camino was well marked and I was quickly climbing hills into the countryside.
    I intended to stop in Lires overnight but found myself there at 10.30am. It did not look an inspiring place so I just carried on.
    Around noon, I found a small cafe stop and enjoyed a cafe con leche and a tuna pastry.
    I met some peregrinos walking from Muxia to Finisterre. The confusing part is that there are bollards and arrows in both directions.
    I eventually arrived in Muxia at 1pm and registered at the Albergue. It is fantastic and only costs 6 Euro’s. You can only stay if you gave walked from Santiago or Finisterre. I also collected another certificate.
    Admin quickly completed, I was out the door for some substantial food. There I met the lovely girl I had spoken to in Olivado.
    I walked to the headland at Muxia to see the lighthouse and the astonishing church there. As I got there, I gate crashed a wedding. What a setting! They had traditional Galician singing and dancing.
    It is a wonderful place to end my blog.
    Tomorrow, I have four more days of walking back to Santiago de Compostela and then I will travel to Lisbon to meet my beautiful wife.
    I intend to use that time to reflect on what has been another amazing Camino without any distractions.
    Thank you all for your amazing support and words of encouragement.
    This was my 32nd day on the Caminos and the 5th on the Camino Finisterre / Muxia.
    I will have walked for 36 days and covered over 900kms.    Read more

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  • Mick ByrneVia De La Plata 2018
    Day31

    Cee to Cabo Finisterre

    October 19 in Spain

    Cee to Cabo Finisterre

    Distance 23kms (4 hours)

    There was a real snore fest last night in the Albergue. At least five were giving it rock all. Thanks to Jim Barber’s earplugs, I slept well.
    I was out the door at 8am and back on the Camino. I feel really strong which isn’t surprising after all the pain, exhaustion and distance I’ve walked.
    I arrived on the outskirts of Finisterre town and walked along the beach into the town. It was beautiful.
    As I walked into the town, I met Max from Poland. I walked with him yesterday. It was a great surprise. I then passed a hotel Al Cox and I stayed in two years ago and the pirate bar.
    It was only 10.45am so I carried on to Cabo Finisterre.
    I felt fantastic when I got to the 0.00km marker. I sat on the rocks overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and toasted my family, parents and friends with a bottle of wine I had in my rucksack. It would have been a shame not to!
    I stayed there for about an hour, shoes off, bottle of wine and soaking up the sun rays. It was very peaceful.
    I returned to the town and met some other peregrinos I had walked with on this short Camino.
    I have checked into the Albergue, collected my Finisterre certificate and am now refuelling before contemplating going onto Lires & Muxia tomorrow.
    And that was my 31st day on the Camino and my 4th day on Camino Finisterre / Muxia    Read more

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  • Mick ByrneVia De La Plata 2018
    Day30

    Olveuroa to Cee

    October 18 in Spain

    Olveiroa to Cee

    Distance 18kms (3.5 hours)

    I had a comfortable evening in the Xunta Albergue in Olveiroa. A strange small pueblo. The Albergue was a mixture of building. It rained heavily all yesterday afternoon/evening. I made a vain effort to wash and dry my clothes.
    I had a basic peregrinos dinner in the bar next door and struck up a lengthy conversation with a young girl from Barcelona. She was a lovely kid.
    I left the Albergue this morning after packing away all my wet clothes from the day before. The Camino immediately climbed to a ridge which was fantastic. There was a wind farm on the ridge line and all you could hear in the darkness was the whoosh of the blades of the windmills.
    There seemed to be lots of peregrinos walking to Santiago. I recognised a number from previous days.
    I ended up walking with Nax who I met in the Albergue the night before. He is polish and used to live in Crewe. He has now returned home to live in Poland. We walked about 10kms together until we got to Cee. We could see Cabo Finisterre in the distance. Max carried on as he gas to travel back to Santiago tomorrow. I am not in such a rush so stopped in Cee for the night.
    Tomorrow, I have 26kms to walk to Finisterre, it will be a breeze.
    And that was my 30th walking the Caminos and my 3rd day on Camino Finisterre / Muxia.    Read more

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  • Mick ByrneVia De La Plata 2018
    Day29

    Negreira to Olveiroa

    October 17 in Spain

    Negreira to Olveiroa

    Distance 35kms (7 hours)

    I left Negreira at 8am this morning. It was cool but perfect for walking. For the first time in the Camino, I passed lots of peregrinos walking to Finisterre.
    I really enjoyed walking alone. I stopped at a picnic site near a pueblo called Santa Marina for lunch and as I set off again, it started to rain heavily. My little pop up umbrella worked a treat. It meant that I didn’t have to put my waterproof jacket on. I didn’t take many pictures today but the first half of the day was fantastic. The Camino was high in the hills. The light was perfect and there were cloud inversions in the valley floors.
    I arrived in the small pueblo Olveiroa at 3pm. The Xunta Albergue is very strange. It is a combination of different buildings serving different purposes - reception, basic kitchen and habitation. I’ve hand washed my clothes but am not hopeful of getting them dry for tomorrow.
    I have had a peregrino’s dinner in a bar next door. I have 38km to go to Finisterre. I will walk about 20kms to Corcubion which will put me on the coast. That will leave a mere 14km stroll to Finisterre on Friday.
    The weather promises to be better for the remainder of the week.
    And that was my 29th day on a Camino and my 2nd day on the Camino Finisterre - Muxia.    Read more

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  • Mick ByrneVia De La Plata 2018
    Day28

    Santiago de Compostela to Negreira

    October 16 in Spain

    Camino Finisterre - Muxia

    Santiago de Compostela - Negreira

    Distance 22 kms (4.5 hours)

    The hostel, I stayed in last night, was fantastic. I spent the afternoon wandering around the city. It was wonderful. I visited the cathedral after the noon mass. This meant that I did not gave to queue to hug St. James statue or see the relic chest said to contain his bones.
    It was lovely just sitting in the main square watching the other peregrinos as they finished their Caminos.
    As I collected my Compostela yesterday, there were film crews filming the process. Apparently, 300,000 pilgrims walked the Caminos this year!
    This morning, I got up at 7am and set off on the Camino Finisterre. Al Cox and I walked this stretch two years ago. This time, it was a lovely dry morning. I reallly enjoyed the walk and seeing the familiar sights again.
    I felt great and strong. There were a couple of BIG hills but I quickly overcame them.
    I arrived in Negerira at noon and felt I could have gone on but I had already decided that that was it for the day. Lunch and a couple glasses of wine, I intend to relax for the afternoon.
    And that was my 28th day on walking and day 1 on the Camino Finisterre / Muxia    Read more

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  • Mick ByrneVia De La Plata 2018
    Day27

    Outeiro to Santiago de Compostela

    October 15 in Spain

    Outeiro to Santiago de Compostela

    Distance 17kms (3.5 hours)

    There were 7 peregrinos in the remote rural Albergue. It was very modern and cosy. The hospilardo arranged for food to be ordered and delivered. Unfortunately, it did not arrive until 9.30pm. We were starving! Once delivered though, all seven of us sat at a long table and shared some of our food.
    I left the Albergue at 7.30am in total darkness and lashing with rain. The rain continued all morning.
    The path meandered along the main N525 route to Santiago. I took a wrong turn once and after half kilometre later, I instinctively knew that I had gone awry. I got back on the Camino and finally arrived at 11am into the main square. I was very wet and bedraggled.
    I made my way to the peregrinos office to collect my Compostela. It was like the Spanish Inquisition. Finally, the official shook my hand and congratulated me on walking the Via de la Plata.
    Ruaidhri arrived shortly after me. We both went to the information office to get details of the Camino Finisterre. Ruaidhri is walking from Santiago to Vigo.
    I have checked into the private Albergue and am drying out.
    Tomorrow, the weather promises to be better and I will begin the Camino Finisterre.
    And that was my 26th and final day on the Via de la Plata / Camino Sanabres.    Read more

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  • Mick ByrneVia De La Plata 2018
    Day26

    Silleda to Outeiro

    October 14 in Spain

    Silleda to Outeiro

    Distance 24 kms (6 hours)

    Last night, there was only 7 peregrinos in the Albergue. It was on the top floor of a municipal building and felt like a ship. For the first time on the Camino, we were supplied with a proper sheet and pillowcase...luxury.
    I spent most of the evening with a bag of ice on my leg. It helped to reduce the swelling.
    Roraigh and I met a few peregrinos in the town and went for a quick meal before we had to rush back to the Albergue to register with the hospilardo. It was just as well we did as it started to rain heavily. We managed to rescue our drying clothes.
    This morning, we set out at 8.30am. It was cold and lashing rain. I made the conscious decision to walk most of the way on the road. N525 goes all the way to Santiago. My logic was that it won’t be muddy and fairly dtraight forward. I might find a place for a coffee and food. It turns out that I made the right decision, Roraigh follows the yellow arrows (fechas) and described it as a meandering mud bath.
    There were some big ascents and descents but I simply switched off mentally and listening to music as I walked along in the rain.
    The last 4 kilometres were fantastic. Back on the official trail, it took me through narrow lanes through eucalyptus and oak forests. It was beautiful.
    The sun came out as I arrived at the Xunta hostel which is in an isolated village. It is really modern and cosy as the heating is on. Time to relax. Tomorrow, I have 17 kilometres to walk to Santiago de Compostela.
    And that was my 25th day on the Via de la Plata / Camino Sanabres.    Read more

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  • Mick ByrneVia De La Plata 2018
    Day25

    Castro Dozon to Silleda

    October 13 in Spain

    Castro Dozón to Silleda

    Distance 28kms ( 6.5 hours)

    I had around 10 hours sleep last night and woke up feeling very refreshed. Swelling on my left leg was reduced. Just after 8am, I set off with the other peregrinos into the stunning dawn. The temperature was perfect for walking.
    The Camino varied from sunken lanes to walking above motorway sections.i felt strong and happily walked along listening to ‘Counting Crows’.
    I walked part of the time with Ruadhri. I arrived in the pueblo A Laxe around midday with 18kms in. The Albergue didn’t open until 1pm. I walked 200m to a nearby bar and had a bite to eat. By now, a few other peregrinos joined me. I decided to carry on the extra 10kms although my leg was hurting me again. I was joined by Ruadhri. As we set off, a snake slithered across our path and frightened the living daylights out off me.
    Today’s walk was very like a beautiful spring day in the U.K. I walked on paths of acorns and chestnuts.
    We arrived at the Albergue at 2.30pm. It feels a little strange but I have a bed.
    I had 41 kms to walk to Santiago de Compostela . I will hopefully walk 24kms tomorrow and 17kms on Monday.
    And that was my 24th day on the Via de la Plata / Camino Sanabres.    Read more

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  • Mick ByrneVia De La Plata 2018
    Day24

    Cea to Castro Dozon

    October 12 in Spain

    Cea to Castro Dozón

    Distance 15km (3 hours)

    I had a relaxing evening in the Albergue. There were about 25 peregrinos overnight. As predicted, there was a snore fest. I did not participle and managed to have a great night’s sleep with the aid of my ear plugs. At 6.30am, a music alarm tried to walk everyone up. Everyone ignored it and lay on. I eventually got up, had some fruit for breakfast and generally relaxed.
    I finally left the Albergue at 8.30am. Sunrise was at 8.40am. I passed some peregrinos who seemed to be waiting for someone to lead the way out of town. I happily obliged.
    It has been a cool, overcast day with drizzle. The weather is not unlike the U.K.
    There seemed to be a lot of peregrinos on the Camino. I happily wandered although and cruises up some big hills. You were right Mike about the terrain.
    I eventually arrived at the Xunta Albergue at 11.30am. The bonus to being early is that you get the three important things to a peregrino:
    1. Bottom bunk
    2. Space around your bunk
    3. Electric socket
    Simple things but they mean a lot.
    Admin completed, I have eaten lunch and will now relax for the afternoon.
    And that was my 23rd day on the Via de la Plata / Camino Sanabres.    Read more

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