Day 54 and 55 Finistere and beyond!!!!!!!!

Day 54 and 55                        Cee to Finistere  and Beyond!!!!!!!!!!!!!!                   15kms   

For a last day of the camino we were so lucky. Warm temperatures , cloudless skies and no wind are a rarity in Galicia and we got them all. But it is all so bitter sweet. The last 15kms of walking was all along the coast with the last 2 kms along the beach.

  In some ways Finistere reminds me of my home town in Canada, Tofino, the end of the road. 

 After we found our great hostel  ( again with a view) we walked the last 2 kms out to the lighthouse. 

The most western point of Europe

Tradition has it that one must burn a possession on the rocks at Finistere. Of course we complied. The other tradition is to watch the setting sun.

dipping our feet in the cold Atlantic Ocean

And that’s it.. we are done our camino. We did have the option to walk another 32kms to Muxia. Muxia is further up the coast and also has pilgrim significance. It was apparently to here that the Virgin Mary sailed in a stone boat (yup…….. a stone boat)  and encouraged Saint James to continue preaching.

Many pilgrims go to Muxia but I did not have the desire. I felt Finistere was a very wonderful ending. Besides, I need to leave something to end the next pilgrimage. I would love to do another one someday.

We met several pilgrims finishing their journey in Finistere but the most impressive was a beautiful young man from Germany. We watched him crumple in front of the 0km marker and just sob.

  He had just walked from Berlin to Finistere, 3000kms.He said all he wanted to do was keep walking. He was having a hard time dealing with his end. We also met another woman who had just finished a 5 day come down retreat. The retreat was dedicated to helping pilgrims come to terms with what they have accomplished. Hmmm.. now there’s a business?? Apparently the retreats are full.

We are now off to Madrid and then back to Granada. We will spend 8 days hiking in the Alpujarras. I will try to keep on posting until the Olympics.   Max races on August 12^th.