Even I don’t believe it for this day. We started walking from Arzua at around 10 am. It was to be a reasonable hike to Pedrouzo. We calculated that we should arrive around 4 or 5 pm today.

I felt tired waking up this morning. There were some signs of aches and pains around my feet. These signals were noted and I considered taking a break from walking today even though I was so close to Santiago. However, I pushed these thoughts aside and started the walk with Marybel. She walked on briskly ahead.

I was fine until a few kilometres later, I don’t know how many. I can only guess it to be 2-3 kms only. Then the soles of my right foot started to feel like it was on fire. I ignored it until I could not stand it anymore. I felt I could not walk another step. I called Marybel on the cellphone and asked her to wait for me at the next town. She did. Concerned that I cannot go on, I decided that I would commission a cab to the Albergue Edreira, our albergue of choice for this night. She would walk on and continue on the camino.

My cab ride only took 20mins to reach the town of Pedrouzo. Funny, as it would have taken me 4-5 hours to walk to this town. I am grateful for the ride though it was quite expensive at $20. Tough luck on this one. I really needed it. I waited at the albergue for Marybel. It was just my turn (remember, hers was at Ventas De Naron).

Marybel arrived at around 4:30pm soaking wet and ankle-deep in mud on her shoes. She looked a terrible mess and conveyed how difficult the route was for today. Other pilgrims who arrived looked as messed up as she did. Two Canadians, Sarah and Kathleen, had to wash all the clothes they were wearing as everything they had on was just dirty and pants were covered in mud.

Well, Folks, Marybel informed me that I had just bypass one of the worst trek she has made on the Camino. The unforgiving path began after Marybel and I parted where I went to look for a cab and she continued on the camino. The camino was just messy and incredibly wet. All who walked on it today had to have suffered a lot.

I am grateful that I missed a trying endeavour. I would not have made it anyways. I am reminded that God will only give you what you can handle and he obviously knows me well. You can say that he “helped” me with my pain.

Tommorrow is when we reach Santiago. My pain has subsided with the much needed rest this afternoon. I will walk to Santiago but without my backpack so that I can manage the walk better. Both of us will use the backpack service for tommorrow. It has come in really handy for the difficult moments.

We will stay at Casa Suso for two nights in Santiago. Tommorrow’s hike will be around 20 kms and we will pass Monte De Gozo where pilgrims will see the outskirts of Santiago prior to entering the city. This spot is supposed to be a poignant moment as pilgrims relish the nearing of the end of their journey. In olden days, pilgrims wash and clean up at Monte De Gozo so that they are fresh for entering the Cathedral. I am not quite sure what we will do tommorrow. Perhaps, we will symbolically wash our faces and hands to somewhat keep with the tradition.

I am excited to reach Santiago but at the same time sad that I did not walk today. The Camino is very alive for me and has given me some valuable lessons for life. In my heart, I know it has been communicating with me through the people I meet, the birds I hear, the flowers I see, the foods I eat and even the unbearable smell of cowdung in the villages I walk past. It is very unique in its language and one can miss the subtleties easily. If you can discern the information, you can gain much and enjoy the WAY better.

Peace and love,
Hilda 🙂
Until tommorrow.