Start: Ribadeo
End: Vilela
Distance: 4.18 miles (6.73 kilometers) and 498 feet (151.8 meters) of ascent.
Quote: “There was nowhere to go but everywhere.“ ~ Jack Kerouac
Musings: Carol decided that her Brooke’s trail runners had run their course. So when we arrived in Ribadeo, we headed to the Decathalon store where she bought new trail running shoes. She wanted to give her new shoes a small tryout before walking 15+ miles in them. So hatched a plan to walk 4+ miles to Vilela this morning on the Camino and then catch a taxi back to our hotel at Ribadeo. It worked great. So tomorrow morning, we plan to take a taxi back to Vilela to continue our Camino from there so as not to double up on any mileage. I’m happy to walk every mile on the Camino but I do not want to walk even one of those miles twice! So yes, even on our “rest” day we ended up putting in some miles. Ugh. But we have one more rest day coming up shortly, and I plan on being a complete slug all day that day!
This morning, before starting our 4+ mile walk, we did some errands, and just happened to bump into Nicole—one of our Camino kids!! She took a rest day yesterday and today was on her way out of Ribadeo and heading toward Santiago. She will finish her Camino several days ahead of Carol and me and is planning some very long walking days—including a last day into Santiago of 40 kilometers (24.86 miles)! She told Carol and me that she’s planning a U.S. tour soon so we hope it won’t be long until we see her again.
Yesterday was our last day walking on the coast, and per usual it did not disappoint! Pictures are below. Tonight a group of us shared taxis to a beach about 15 miles outside of Ribadeo called Playa de las Catedrales (Beach of the Cathedrals). Joining Carol and me were Helen, our Camino friend from NY, Hilary from Cincinnati/Chicago, and a new Camino friend, Steven, who is originally from the Michigan UP, but now hails from the UK. The rock formations at this beach are not to be missed if you’re ever in this area. Yesterday was our last day to walk the coast, but this evening was our last time to see the coast or the Atlantic Ocean this trip—so while it was incredibly beautiful it was also a bit bitter sweet.
In our conversations with one another now, we are beginning to talk about completing our Caminos or the day we hope to arrive in Santiago or what our plans are for after the pilgrimage. Everyone seems to be both excited to accomplish this huge goal they set for themselves and touched by a bit of melancholy at the thought of it ending. Endings and beginnings are so often this way—excitement tinted with sadness—anticipation seasoned with a hint of loss. But every journey has a beginning, middle, and end. You can’t start the next journey and experience all it may hold until the one your presently on ends. So for us, it’s on toward Santiago tomorrow.
Until then, here are the photos from yesterday and today:
May 29th
A pilgrim scarecrow?
Palacia de Fonfría
Just me and my shadow on this part of the trail.
Photo credit goes to Jihong (I think?).
Sometimes the Camino looks long . . . .
Looks long here too . . . .
May 30th
Really happy to bump into this Camino kid before she headed out of Ribadeo on the last portion of her journey to Santiago!
Galatian beehives! Didn’t get too close.
Carol, Steve, Hilary, and Helen at Playa de las Catedrales
Carol, Tami, Hilary, and Helen at the same beach. Photo credit goes to Steve.
Hilary
Carol and me! Photo credit goes to Helen.
Hilary
Me being a goofball. Photo credit goes to Carol.
I always enjoy your photographs, but this time you have outdone yourself. The photos of that beach area are spectacular. Happy travels and thanks again for sharing your adventures with us.
Wow, as always, you never disappoint. These photos are incredible! They say 21 days makes a habit, so you care clearly entrenched in this one now, and it seems so am I ;-) I'm thinking you should consider a future as a travel journalist!