About a week ago I got an email from a camino 'expert' after asking for some advice on volunteering in Santiago. I wanted to bus to Santiago and welcome my friends into their final destination. She said that I couldn't do this unless I completed the last 100 kms and received the proper compostela. She also recommended I take a bus to Ferrol and complete the Camino Ingles- it's quieter, less people to race for a bed and I could take little steps to the end. It sounded ideal, especially with my injury plus it was easy to have someone else make the choice for me, instead of following my heart as I had all along. The same day I decided and the day after were a couple of the most magical in regards to heart connection with my camino family. I didn't want to leave, I cried a lot that day and my heart said to stay, but my mind had already decided, so I went.
I realize now after almost a month of walking and nearly 400 miles, though I didn't come with my momma and dad like I had planned, I instead found moms and dads along the way. I've been given advice and guidance and blessings that I've been missing for many years now, since I haven't had a father and my mommas been so invested in my pops, she hasn't been able to be as present in my life. I've been blessed with women and men I've actually called 'mom' and 'dad' somewhat jokingly, but also honestly as they played the role quite appropriately at the most necessary times.
So though I wanted so badly to stay and continue on with my family, I left for the road less traveled and the water. I spent two days on the Camino Ingles and it was two of the most physically challenging days I've had yet and also most introspective. It's like the Castrojeriz hill every 30 minutes and the mind in meseta mind mode all day. The other thing is that the CI is not waymarked as well as the CF and I spent a lot of time walking for kms only to realize I was going the wrong way. It was good for my body and new muscles were sore, but I missed the people and the interaction and connection. Plus after the snake, being chased by two dogs, and the old local man who taught me about Texas history and then asked if I was afraid of bring kidnapped since I was all alone , I was ready to go back to my original path. Also, slow and low milage is not possible, since there is one 19 mile hike and one 14 mile hike with nothing between. Oh yeah, alburgues are usually closed, far from the camino and you have to call for them to open them and sometimes they are too busy to do that for you and ask you to wait hours. But I am so happy I got to play in the sand and dip my body in the coldish waters and also pick up some momentos for my family. I visited some fantastic beach towns and met lovely locals, who didn't instill fear of kidnapping in me, so all in all it was a great experience.
I finally got back to Sarria and will complete the compostela from here. I also dig that I was told by two spaniards in Pontedeume that the walk from Sarria to Santiago is like walking through a fairy tale, Peter Pan style, and it's not a bad way to end my walk. So I'll rest for one more day and then start walking to Santiago tomorrow. Sarria just calls to me and since my dads name surrounds me at every corner, road and restaurant, it's meant to be. This is always the way it turns out, as long as you follow your heart.
