I have decided walking the Camino has been a bit like a washing machine cycle. We started out all those days ago in Sarria in pouring rain (this would be the adding water stage after the clothes have been added) in this case read add pilgrims (peregrinos). Then agitate for a while and then over the next few days there were a few rinse cycles, rain, sun, dry wind , wet wind you get the picture. Then after days of these cycles we awoke this morning to find that there was still a final rinse cycle to go as it was blowing a gale after pouring with rain all night. So we set off under leaden skies and you guessed it up some significant climbs. It is interesting that walk designers seem to have an infatuation with steep climbs immediately after breakfast maybe there is something to get the heart pumping and blood racing to set you up for the rest of the day. We made it all the way up to Mont de Gozo whereupon the heavens opened. So with as much wet weather gear on board as could be worn we trudged down the big hill from the Mont to the outskirts of Santiago and then had a long walk through the city to the Cathedral that the real pilgrims get so excited about. My purely academic interest was dulled somewhat by the torrential rain and gale force winds but it is a spectacular if a bit dilapidated old cathedral. Found a café for a coffee and then off to the Hotel Compestela (which is very nice) for a nice hot bath.
So I notched up my personal 100 klms today and the other lads have the proud achievement of 116klms to their credit. You should see Peter fly up hills these days :-)
John (fitness machine) Rufus was traditionally well in the lead on most days walks with the rest of us jockeying for minor places.
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