The Camino gave us a perfect day in all respects, for the last one on the Norte before it joined the hustle and bustle of the Frances.
It was the coldest start of the Camino so far – gloves cold! We all met for breakfast at a cafe just outside the monastery. The place was packed with pilgrims, the most I’ve seen in recent days.
As dawn arrived we set off. Mist clung to the fields that surround the Mosteiro de Santa Maria. I was keen to get warm, so I went full pace to reach the first hill of the day.
Once at the top I was fully warmed up. The route mostly consisted of country roads through the forested green rolling hills of Galicia. At 10km it was time for a break at Boimorto.
The Sun still hadn’t warmed everything up enough to take off my jumper, but it was a lot more comfortable. Continuing on we had the route to ourselves.
Just before Arzúa, the Camino gave us our last farewell to the Norte. Peaceful surrounds, cows grazing in the fields, the sun lazily shining through the trees and only birdsong and our footsteps could be heard. Our last bit of solace before we join the cacophony of the Camino Frances.
Once in town we sat at a bar for a few drinks, slightly in celebration mode. We played a game of ‘spot the tourigrino’ as the pilgrims made their way along the Camino Frances.
Later we all met up for food and drinks. We had to say goodbye to Christavel, who will be pulling a big day to Santiago tomorrow due to commitments, and Samual is spending a rest day in Arzúa to meet up with friends.
The end of the adventure is racing towards me now.
Stu's Camino 