Primarily the trip into Santiago was all a blur as we were so focussed on getting here. The one memory will be the bloody cobbled streets on our tired bums, alongside me singing "Show me the way to Santiago". They obviously didnt get the memo about the state of our bums!
When we finally got to the cathedral we stopped in the middle of the square, hugged, shed a tear or two and just let out a sigh. 9 months of training, 13 days of cycling, 800km and that was it, all the moments of doubt cast aside by the sense of relief.
We have our compostella (certificate) and tomorrow we will do the pilgrims mass.
Tonight we will enter the cathedral, head butt a saint and then see the crypt where St James is buried. It seems rude to come all this way and not pop in to say hi.
Following this it will be some nice wine, a nice meal and then some sleep in our lovely hotel.
I can also now mention the word:
PUNCTURE!!!!!
We did not get one between us! Ha take that you flat tyre demons!!!
Mike Reflections:
The challenge of the Camino is one that I will remember forever, and being able to complete it with my wife has only made us stronger. Whatever lies ahead, we know that if its a challenge we have a great team to pull through it. Some of my favourite moments have been sat in a piddly bit of shade, hot, hungry and tired, giggling like kids at each other, making sure we can finish the day.
Spiritually, I am always at home in the countryside, enjoying the isolated places you can get to on foot or by bike (or with fishing rod). However this camino exudes a spiritual history all along the way, you can feel the human trace across the land and in the buildings you see. The modern pilgrims are a credit to every nation, take away the worries of home and reduce people to their bare minimum and you see the best of the human spirit. There is a real connection between everyone of you (could just be the shared pain) and the smiles, and the offers of help from everyone even if you are speaking a different language will be one of the most treasured things I take away.
Everyone should look for a physical and spiritual challenge in life as it has brought supreme relaxation away from normal life, as well as an amazing additional bond between two daft newlyweds.
Sarah Reflections:
I have to say, i was not sure i could do this. Even a few days ago. Challenges come along in life and you learn to deal with them, but going out and finding one, finding out what you are really made of, and in this case what we are made of, is something else. And i and we can do so much more and be so much more than i thought. This camino has been an idea for a while. A wouldnt that be nice. It is only through mikes stupidity that i am here, and i am just as thankful for that as i am for him getting me round.
A lot of people come out here looking for god. The pilgrims asked that question in leon certainly were, and i think to an extent i was too. In doing this i dont think i have found god per se. No angel dropped me at the top of those climbs, and i did ask!! But what i did find was a spirit, in me, in us, and in others we met along the route. I found many of those christian values that are talked about each week in church and you walk out thinking you must remember to try and be that person. On this camino i have found strength, perserverence, love, forgiveness (more mike than me!) and most importantly of all i think acceptance. I have learnt you can be so happy in life with so little. I hope when this bubble is left that i continue to live those values i have found here. As it in living those values that i think you find the spirit of life, be it a belief in god or just mankind. I also know that wherever life leads it is going to be just fine, as i have mike, and there is very little more i need.
Memories:
The bloke trying to help sarah and falling off his bike.
The dog biting a wasp and getting stung and running off into a van.
A man taking a pee next to us while we ate lunch on a bench.
A man talking to me for 20mins in incomprehensible spanish, after i told him I did not understand him.
Pharmacies giving us practically anything to treat aches.
Marco the mad italian.
The german pilgrim who made us smile everytime we met.
The spanish couple on bikes we kept meeting in random places all along the route.
The oreo chocolate.
The cheescake magnums.
Spanish pimiento peppers.
Vino :-)
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