more catch up for youFisterraSo we cheated today and drove to the end of the world. We have to get dad back to Madrid and it is a long drive so we chose to drive the 80km to Fisterra and also catch Muxia which is where the ending of the movie the Way was filmed. Muxia is a wind driven rocky harbor of a village. The waves crash over the rocks and the bay is huge and wide with mouth of the Atlantic opening up to swallow whatever craft chooses to go into the forbidden open vastness that is the Atlantic.Quite amazing coastline with steep cliffs along side it and then white beaches down on the water. The drive to Muxia is all back roads. The drive to Fisterra from Muxia is even smaller backroads with some single lane and little villages that I think a war criminal could hide away in and never get caught. Back to simple life with cows and goats and these raised hut looking things made of stone. I thought they were for hanging and curing meat but actually for storing grain. Interesting. We got to Fisterra and once again it is a small harbor town with a busy but small port. The seafood here is great and all fresh. You see the fish mongers in their stores selling fresh catch and fisherman cleaning nets and boat yard workers working on boats. We sat in a restaurant overlooking the port. It sounded like raindrops at first but then you realize why there is a cover over the deck. IT wasn’t raindrops but the seagulls doing their thing from the air. We had a fish soup which was just that, broth and fish, mussels, clams, chunks of fish meat and just fantastic. The salad had fresh tuna in it and dad had a porkchop. Nice lunch. We met some ladies from Seattle who (mother and daughter) had just finished their hike. 34 days. WE talked about the pilgrims who started in st Jean and the ones who started in later stages. As you go along the hikers get more and more and you realize it is a pilgrimage. From St Jean you see them every little while but from Leon to Santiago they become crowds. The long distance hikers fitness is noticeably better. They take longer days and get up earlier and beat the sun. The newer hikers don’t seem to have the fitness the pace or the same leanness to their stride. They all do it for the same reason and it is very admirable (no knocks on any of them as they all do it for the purpose). We head to the 0.0km marker and get our pictures taken and then head to Madrid. A full day off to see the sites of madrid and then I go to Toulouse France for the Canal du Midi. I am very excited to have a ride that is not overtaken with mountains. My legs are sore from the long miles and though they feel okay on rides I really struggle with breaks and starting back up on climbs. They like a little warm up and these hills give no warmup just gotta go! The camino for me has been amazing. I will miss the people the camaraderie and the journey. I have already decided I must do it again but in a different way. Either mountain bike the full trail (I rode on the road for portions with single track to keep from destroying my bike) or hike. Honestly, I think I would like to hike it! This is something that any person that needs a change in life should consider. It gives you a depth of thought (personal look inside) and a realization that there is a different world out there besides that work work work place we call home. WE must all enjoy life and take in the richness it has to offer.
