Olveiroa to Finisterre, 20.6 miles

I knew it was going to be a very long day, so I left before the sun was up at 6:45. I stopped for a quick breakfast at the first bar I saw, about an hour into my walk. As I'm sitting at my table eating, Eddie comes up the path—a nice surprise. I'm sure it was a "Camino provides" thing because I had such a long day ahead and having company was going to make it so much easier.

Eddie and I have the same sense of humor and a lot in common, so the banter between us is fun and never ending. We walked for a good 4 hours together until we got to the town of Cee, where Eddie was spending the night. We had a nice lunch together and said our goodbyes as I still had another 4 hours to go.

I was alone the rest of the day except for two very nice men who I have seen off and on for weeks (except I don't know their names but they know mine), so we'd walk together for little bits at a time. The path today was the same rolling hills I've had ever since leaving Santiago—nothing too hard but still challenging. The weather was okay, warm enough but just kind of grey all day unlike the past few beautifully sunny days.

Coming into Finisterre was something else. At this point you've been walking for nearly 8 hours and you crest a hill and out of nowhere, with no warning, is this incredible expanse of ocean. I understand now why the original Pilgrims thought it was "the end of the world." It did feel like the land ended so abruptly and all you could see was water. It was awe inspiring and actually brought a few tears to my eyes imagining what the Pilgrims must have thought—how frightening it must have been that they had come to the end of the world as they knew it.

For so many days my Camino had been about following yellow arrows, reaching the next town, and putting one foot in front of the other. But arriving here felt different. Santiago felt like an ending. Finisterre feels more like a continuation. It doesn't feel like an ending at all. It feels quiet. Reflective. Like a place to sit with everything the Camino has given me.

I'm not racing toward anything now. I'm just taking it all in—the sound of the ocean, the slower pace, and the feeling that some journeys keep going even after you arrive.

Tomorrow I am going to take a bus to Muxia and spend the day there exploring. Tomorrow night Eddie and I are having a farewell dinner in Finisterre. I still need to walk the 2 miles to the Finisterre Lighthouse which apparently is a "must do." So a busy day tomorrow and then start the trip to Madrid Sunday in order to fly home Monday.

Buen Camino!