Day 27 (30-Aug-07) - Arzua to Santiago de Compostela

 

Big day…… preceded by a very bad night’s sleep – the worst yet. It was difficult to tell if it was the anticipation of the road that lay ahead, the noise of the road or the plastic undercover sheets!
 

We got up to darkness at 5am and left shortly afterwards embarking on what was unintentionally a long pre-breakfast trek. The road was a little undulating and light on the feet, not least because we had been lightened of our loads by Nelly and Maarten the night before. Day finally broke after around 7kms to the rather strangled screech of a cockerel who like us must have been on his last legs.
 

Thankfully, owing to the early start, we had the Pilgrim’s route all to ourselves, adding to the tranquillity of the wooded scenery unfolding from the darkness. Our light loads made for speedy progress, enabling us to reach our breakfast stop just beyond Arco at 10:10hrs. At 20km distance from Arzua, this was further than originally planned, but the villages we passed on the way were little more than one-house hamlets.

 

Having recharged batteries with chorizo and queso boccadillos, we continued our effortless stroll into Santiago de Compostella. Legs, feet and fitness had by now been so toughened from 750km of hiking that we entered the city after 38km without any feeling of tiredness whatsoever. During the final 2km to the old city centre and the Cathedral itself excitement began to build, with arrival at the main entrance giving way to pure elation and flood of other feelings at finally arriving at journey’s end.

Nelly had been notified of our impending arrival from Motto de Gozo, and was waiting in Praza do Obradoiro to witness our last few steps. Pride and joy in her daughter’s achievement was very evident in her beaming smile. And what an achievement:-

.

753.40km in 25 walking days, 3 days quicker than our original schedule and 6 days quicker than recommended minimum.

Nikki’s accomplishment was equally impressive, covering 311km in 11 days, an average of 28.27km/day.

The rest of the day was spent with Nelly and Maarten celebrating and reflecting on the month-long journey, with tiredness finally catching up just before midnight.