Mission complete.
Yesterday morning I decided against busking in Cee as the place was deserted in the morning.
Instead I made the decision to continue on to Finisterre and busk there instead.
The walking from Cee to Finisterre is quite tough – what with all the ups and downs – but it’s a rewarding walk with wonderful views of the sea and of Cape Finisterre often picturing in the distance:
A few kilometres btw after Cee there is a great donativo albergue at San Roque. I didn’t sleep there but I did manage to pop in this morning on my way back from Finisterre and the pilgrims present raved about the place:
The first view of Finisterre as you walk along the beach leading to the town:
I couldn’t take my eyes off the sea:
Finisterre is very small and unfortunately feels a little commercial.
Lots of pilgrims arrive here by bus from Santiago; also quite a few tourists.
There are many places to sleep in the town and there isn’t any need to reserve ahead.
I walked into town, played for a while and got a few Euros only; then I made my way up to the lighthouse, which stands at the end of the world.
On the way up I passed this sorrowful looking pilgrim:
No more kilometres to walk:
The weather was very wet.
It was windy.
There was a great sense of camaraderie among pilgrims:
Just before I reached the lighthouse I met again the Hungarian pilgrim, on his way to spread his wife’s ashes to the wind. I was again humbled by his achievement and by his suffering.
I popped into the lighthouse (Faro) to get a final stamp in my Pilgrim Passport:
I hadn’t walked 3,109km to pay 50 Cents for a stamp in my Pilgrim Passport. I said I wanted the stamp but I wasn’t going to pay for it; it wasn’t a problem.
I looked out at the Atlantic Ocean in front of me, turned round, got hugged by a South Korean pilgrim whom I couldn’t recall meeting, and then began the walk back down to Finisterre, along the beach leading away from Finisterre in the drenching rain, and into rebirth.
Along the way I was drawn to this boat laying idle on the beach:
Mission complete. I walked, I had an adventure. I lived.
3,109km walked (although I mentally guess-worked it out likely to be more).
Always keeping to the Camino path.
Now I am free to walk in whichever direction I choose.
I can hitch or take public transport.
Rebirth feels liberating.
I have a flight leaving Santiago de Compostela for Switzerland on Friday and then another adventure getting back to the Czech Republic; which will be my final post on this section of the site.
I just need to cover the 100km from here in Cee to the airport and unfortunately for me this will probably mean walking the entire distance in my wet, broken boots and with my wet, broken rucksack.
I feel sorry in advance for the people sitting either side of me on the plane; I can smell my socks and boots from head distance away. I hope the airline will take good care of my guitar in the hold.
The arrival to Finisterre isn’t the end.
It’s a new beginning.
It’s a new beginning for every pilgrim who arrives at the lighthouse and who has no distance left to walk.
Just as the sun dies a death in its sunset, it experiences rebirth in its sunrise and this is true also for the pilgrim.
Everything is clear.
I’m happy and I can see where my future is.
The Camino has saved me again. It has shown me the way.
I will miss all the people I have met on the way, but whenever I feel nostalgic I will always have the photos and thoughts here to remind me of my incredible journey and the incredible people whom I met as pilgrims. Also the people I met on the way who showed me incredible acts of hospitality.
Thank you for following and for being part of my journey.
Very well done! That was quite walk 🙂 I don’t blame you for not wanting to pay for your last stamp – what a cheek!
Happy travels.
Thank you Marianne. Yes, quite a walk! 🙂
Happy travels to you too!
Nev 🙂
I am glad that you found what you were looking for. Now onto the next pursuit.
– Clare
Absolutely Clare!
Wishing you a lovely day.
Nev 🙂
Well done Nev!! So you see…..I remembered you!! we kept bumping into each other on the Le Puy route. I look forward to knowing what your exciting future holds…great things im sure!! Look after yourself.! Lusan from South Africa!
Lusan!!! 🙂
Great to hear from you.
I hope you got back ok and it was wonderful bumping into you all those times.
All the best to you too and for your next Camino!
Nev 🙂
Thank you very much for your wonderful blog. I’ve been following it right from the start and I’ll certainly miss it when you’re finished. May God bless you.
Thank you so much lucymi for following and for your comment!
It’s been tough, but wonderful.
Wishing you a lovely day.
Nev 🙂
Nev, well done!!
Thank you for letting us walk your Camino with you. It’s the next best thing to being on the Camino itself.
I’m sure the last three months will be hard to forget!!
Buen Camino!
Hi David!
Yep, the last 3 months will be very hard to forget.
I find myself back in Santiago and with a brain which wants to walk, but with legs and feet which definitely do not.
Buen Camino to you too David!
Nev 🙂
Well done, Camino Nev!
I look forward to catching up and hearing stories of your adventures in August.
Yep it’s time to hang up my cape, store my stick and morpho-energise back into real life.
Well, when I return home at least; I have another few weeks of adventure until that happens 🙂
Looking forward to seeing you soon!
Brother Nev 🙂
Well done Nev ! What an epic adventure !
At the same time, I feel sad to know it is over, even if – as you said, it a new begining ! Indeed, thanks to your daily news it was as if I walked the Camino with you, and this since we leave each other in Saint-Chély-d’Aubrac.
Congratulations again for this fantastic trip !
I’ll be back on the Camino this Summer.
Ultreïa !
Hugues
Merci beaucoup Hugues!
You are back on the Camino this summer? Where will you be walking?
Yes, it is sad, but all things must pass and at least I have the comfort of my memories and of course vague plans of my next adventure on the Way of Saint James.
Take care my friend. It was such a pleasure meeting you and I hope our paths will meet again; if they do then it will be my pleasure to buy you a beer next time 🙂
Nev 🙂
Nooooooooo….you have to turn around and walk all the way back! Im going to miss your daily blogs, I looked forward to them every day.
🙂 Thank you Debbie for reading!
I think that walking back would be physical and mental torture 🙂
Of course though that’s exactly what the earlier pilgrims did; there was no Ryan Air or Easy Jet back in the day.
Wishing you a great day and thank you so much again for following my blog Debbie!
Nev 🙂
Why do you like the song hey jude so much?
🙂
It’s easy to play, people like it, and I like the chorus and of course the lyrics X
I earned 26 Euro in Singen btw Alex, in 2 hours. My best yet 🙂
Hallo, das ist gut:)
🙂
Congratulations. I was in 2013th It was nice and exciting, especially the last night in Finisterra. I burned my:) (+16) …:)
🙂 Thank’s
🙂
Thank you Edina! 🙂