Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Day 31: Palas de Rei to Arzua - 30km

Still smiling!!
From my Dad:

The Pyrenees prepares you, The Meseta cracks you and Galicia heals you ... from our friend Cindy. There's a lot of truth to this, especially over the course of 31 days of hiking and 500 miles. We are down to 25 miles and our plan is to go for Santiago de Compostela starting at 6 am. We'll get 6 miles in before light. The entire trip, with breakfast and lunch break, should take nine hours which gets us there around three or four pm. We plan to go to the Camino office to receive our certificate plus put our names in to be read at the noon mass on Thursday, October 4th.

Today was our 30th hike together which is mind boggling. I'm not saying its easy but today's 20 mile, 7 hour hike really was pleasurable. It's as if we are savoring every last hour, each mile and encounters with new and old friends. We also very much enjoy our time on the trail together and appreciate that God gave us this opportunity.

We hiked through several miles of Eucalyptus groves and it reminded Sue of when she was a little girl and her dad would take her to the Zoo and the Eucalyptus smell would permeate the grounds.

We received a special greeting and blessing from Father at the church of Santiago in a small village. He liked Sue so much he wouldn't let go of her ... especially when he heard she was from California!

It's 8 pm and we are actually getting ready for bed as tomorrow is a big day. We have talked about items to leave behind to reduce weight as we head in. I purchased a cheap flashlight that's heavy and I will give it away as soon as its light. Sue already dumped a pair of socks with a hole in the toe. I hope to get my pack down to 15 pounds and Sue's at 8.

Many of our friends are coming in Thursday but we are ready to give Wednesday/tomorrow a shot.

Blessings to all of our supportive friends and family. We have prayed for all of you!

Esteban y Susana

Iglesia
Cute pony
Advertising on The Camino
Another beautiful trail
Taxis love to advertise to peregrinos
Spanish storage
Oldest cross in Galecia
We don't mind rain today
50km from Santiago
Cruce
Do you see the eucalyptus arrow?
Beautiful flowers
Father loved Sue
Father and Steve
Eucalyptus grove
Lunch
Taking our own picture
Home for tonight
Twin beds

 Eucalyptus grove

Stamping credential

Pins on my hat

Church of Santiago
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6 comments:

  1. Dad and MotherOctober 2, 2012 at 10:15 PM

    Esteban y Susana – We’re so happy that you will be reaching Santiago de Compostela the day before Steve’s birthday! Make sure you arrive at Mass early enough to get a seat because of the special celebration of the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi; the attendance will be huge!! We are extremely proud and excited that the two of you hung in there, and are now completing the 500 mile extreme hike to Santiago de Compostela!! CONGRATULATIONS!! We love you, Dad & Mother

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  2. AnonymousOctober 2, 2012 at 10:26 PM

    S y S:
    WOW! Congrats on a job well done! So proud of & amazed by you! You can't stop walking -- now whose blog are we going to read every night??
    Happy Trails to you tomorrow! Or we should say, "Buen Camino manana!!" Enjoy your day!
    Lots of love & prayers coming your way!
    J y E Kuhr

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousOctober 3, 2012 at 8:15 AM

    I'm going to miss reading your blog too. I look forward to it and am so impressed with both of you. What a journey! See you soon.. safe travels. Happy Birthday Steve!
    Bernadette

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  4. StaceyOctober 3, 2012 at 9:54 AM

    Such a huge accomplishment! I can't believe this journey is coming to an end, but life has a tendency of moving on and starting yet another journey. I am in awe of all you have accomplished...you should be extremely proud! Prayers for a smooth final hike and safe travels back home!

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  5. Mother (again!)October 3, 2012 at 4:19 PM

    I just couldn't resist retelling what Fr. Dave Pivonka told in his book about arriving in Santiago: "The next few blocks were a blur, and I am quite certain I was walking on air. The first moments before the cathedral were unbelievably private and had to be experienced alone. Maybe it was the culmination of two years of planning, thinking and praying, or maybe it was relief that 500 miles of walking were mercifully finished. Perhaps it was thinking of the millions of pilgrims over eleven hundred years who had stood in the exact place I was standing with an overwhelming sense of gratitude. I walked to the middle of the plaza and faced the cathedral; I took off my backpack and knelt down. There, kneeling on the reddish-gray cobblestones, I prayed. The prayer of my heart was what it had always been: thank you, thank you for my Franciscan Life, for family and friends, thank you for letting me walk the Camino!"
    And thank you too for blessing Sue and Steven with this unforgetable pilgrimage to The Shrine of St. James - in Santiago de Compostela!! Love you, Mother

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  6. UnknownOctober 10, 2012 at 9:13 AM

    It makes me so weirdly sad to see your journey coming to an end. Psyched to have you home today, and am so so proud
    gordon

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