J had tossed and turned so much trying to sleep and not get bitten by beasties that by 5am I just got up. I knew I had 21-22 Kilometers to walk and it’s always more tricky when you approach a city. Its easy to get lost and the city streets seem to go on forever. So I worked it backwards.
The aim was to get to the Pilgrim Mass at 12 and get your Compostela from the Office,which I was told there was always a queue. So I would have to be in Santiago and finish at the latest by 10,30am. That sounded like a real bit of pressure and the worst thing was, if I set off at some ungodly hour then I would be longer in total darkness ..the battery had to last and the charger had to be full and the lead had to work. I left!
It wasn’t even 5.30 and my backpack was heavy with 2 litres of water and fruit. I was so charged up.
I think it was more and more deep dark woodland that made my heart pound. I had my poles in my pack so that my hand was free to hold the torch phone. One slip now before the end and it would be stupid. I kept my finger on the screen so that the app and GPS remained lit. The path was narrow and to my left it slipped down into a ravine where at the bottom I knew a river was flowing, but I could only see a little way. Its funny because I wouldn’t more walk in a wood at night in my own city…yet here I was…into the unknown.
If the truth were known, I walked faster than I knew I could. I thought to myself, well if I don’t step forward, I’ll never get there.
I was making good time but then there was a fork in the road. I took the left. The path got narrower and somehow my tummy started to turn. This cant be the way I thought. So I checked my app. It was the wrong path! Turning round and doubling back I was conscious that my heart was racing but I could see a head lamp ahead.
”Oh good, its a pilgrim” I thought, but it was actually two. The second guy said that it was ‘ This Way.’ He was young and round and Irish. I asked if his friend was from Ireland too,to which his friend turned round and said,
” Oh No, I’m Chinese”
I laughed. They were boys from Belfast University studying Pharmacy. They did rush on though after a little chat because they wanted to make the mass too and they had been told there would be a line up to get in!
OH, great, I thought and paced on. It was a good hour before I came to a bar. I needed a morning coffee and the loo and a stamp!! I did all three but couldn’t rest longer or wait…I could taste the end. I had to move. By 9.45 I had hit the outskirts of the city. It went on forever and just as I was crossing yet another roadway with traffic I heard someone in a south Africanaccent shout
‘Carol…Hey remember me its Janine’
She had been joined by her lovely daughter Emma and so together we trudged rapidly the last Kilometers. I knew we were nearer because we started to enter the old town.
One more corner……and there it was!