Day 35 - Monte de Gozo - 40k

Animo Jon? ANIMO JON! Animate yourself Jon.... sighing, ok better had... ;)

Cross growing in the woods

White bread, cheese and cured bacon. Not the best lunch every day for bungedupedness...

It’s an Australian feel to the day as we’re walking through eucalyptus woods as far as the eye can see.

Little Red Danish Man at our mid morning break - Lars or Arni depending on who you ask

We get a move on and our conversation takes us right past Arca where we’d planned to stop for the day. In fact we’d left Rebecca behind us on the trail as she wanted to walk at her own pace, weighted down by the huge pack she had, it’d gotten to the point that she was too near to Santiago to post any of it on to collect from there.

When we realised that we were walking past an Airport, Megan and Jeff commented that they’d landed somewhere similar to this and we started to wonder where we were. By the time we exited the woodland and walked along the main road a few yards, there was a stone sign with Santiago on it.

We’d walked five miles further than we’d planned and had a choice of walk back, take a taxi back, or walk another five miles to the next Albergue as it was imperative to get a stamp every day to earn your Compostela. We were gutted because we’d said to Rebecca that we’d see her in Arca and what would she think when we weren’t there?

Pushing on was the decision as I would have stood there for ages in despair otherwise, so we carried on and who should we catch up with?

Luis and Charo, you guys were meant to be in Santiago today weren’t you?

Statue atop the hill at Monte de Gozo with a view of Santiago, but not today ;(

We make it to Monte de Gozo only to find that thery’re setting up for the Festival of San Marcos with a huge sound system and stage being built as we passed by. There was a statue on the hill where Pilgrims in the past could get their first glimpse of Santiago and most importantly of the Cathedral spires.

Me ol' mucker Pope J.P.II my namesake - A Great friend and supporter of the Camino

Modern building has meant that you can see the town but not the Cathedral from here so we would have to wait for that until tomorrow morning. At least this way we’ll be in Santiago early enough for Mass on the Sunday and won’t have a huge walk for the last day. I’m showered when who should arrive but Rebecca, thank goodness for that. She’d made it here and everyone could relax and enjoy themselves. Emilio was in another room so we should get a decent nights sleep too. Met up with all our friends and went for dinner, coming back past the party in full swing but finding that bed is calling louder than music...