Camino de Santiago Day 37: Negreira to Olveira
A long day, caught in no-man's land between the Camino and the finish - the lack of meaning makes this a tough day at the office
I’m coming to the end of my Camino de Santiago odyssey (it’s not quite over yet). It’s ended up being not just a physical but a creative journey. Sign up to keep in touch with weekly stories, essays and blog posts about travel, the outdoors and all kinds of journeys.
Oh look another sunrise
Another forest, some more mist and – what’s that? Another road.
Ah it’s all a load of bollocks at this stage.
Today is a slog.
It’s over.
For the first time on the whole thing I start asking myself:
“Why the fuck am I still walking?”
There’s no joy in this anymore.
It’s a long day too: 35km. I walk the whole day alone, finding out as I check in that my friends were about 15 minutes behind, probably for the whole day.
I chose this.
I can’t even be bothered to talk to people now. It's weird meeting people and not knowing where you stand: did you begin in St. Jean or Santiago? I make an effort with a Spanish lady in the early-morning darkness outside a rude woman’s café: she began her Camino yesterday in Santiago and is excited to walk to Fisterra.
I might as well be talking to a dog.
Everything in its right place and at its right time – I wasn’t ready to reach Santiago ready to leave Santiago and now I’m ready to leave the Camino. Not a day sooner nor later. By tomorrow I’ll be glad to be done, though I’m hoping that the finish line provides some sort of abstract meaning – or the sight of the ocean provides some kind of motivation to get me over the line.
But what’s the point? Even if I know I’m nearly there, I’ll still be in pain. The ocean won’t heal me until I get in it – what good is looking at it?
My legs are on fire, my purpose is gone, my Spanish peaked a week ago and it deteriorating rapidly, along with my energy.
This is a long day at work.
In a strange limbo where I’m close to going to far, to literally going off the edge of the earth – be careful, I’ve done this before.
Even writing this now – I can’t be arsed. I’m done with the whole thing. Wishing I could finish. Who would know if I didn’t finish this out? Who would care?
What would happen if I just stopped right here
Never walked again
Never wrote another word
What would happen to me then
If you’ve done the Camino, are thinking of doing it, or are just interested in discussing the Camino or travel in general - then please leave a comment. I’d love to hear from you.