13.52 miDistance
1,584 ftElevation gain
1,765 ftElevation loss
4 h 25 mTime
This is the second time that I've had to deal with leaving behind people with which I had grown close to. I can't believe that it's almost over: three more days and we're in Santiago. Today we had to say goodbye to our group.
Louis marched on and did two stages in one day, Maddy Cerstin and Isabelle took it easy and stayed at the end of the previous stage, Mauro and Eileen continued on to Gonzar, and Crissi and I stayed in Pontemarion.
I knew to expect this from my research of the Camino, but after experiencing it first-hand I couldn't handle the feelings. To become so intimate with people whom you swear with, suffer with, laugh with, and make memories with. It's something that I've never truly experienced before. I want to go back in time and do the whole thing over again...
I can actually see myself doing this again.
As far as today is concerned, it wasn't too hard of a walk. I took it easy today due to my right ankle tendon issues. It didn't cause any major problems though thanks to the compression sock, which Crissi says is really just a stocking.
We crossed another small mountain on our way out of Sarria. The various forests and small towns that we went through today seemed to pass by in a blur. We stopped for breakfast at a cafe in a small town outside of Morgade. Shortly thereafter it was upon us: the 100 kilometer marker.
Pontemarion was there, ahead of us, a short distance away. We decided to take the not-so-dangerous approach in to the city. The more dangerous approach went down old dirt and brick steps, and the sign warned against doing it only if you were in absolute great shape, which of course I was not.
While eating lunch on the main street Crissi and I ended up deciding to stay in Pontemarion, while Eileen and Mauro would continue on. As soon as they were gone, we convinced ourselves that this was a good decision. As soon as we were settled in though, and relaxing at a bar, we realized that we had made a mistake. We missed them already.
During dinner Crissi and I thought about trying to take a two day trip to Porto, Portugal in order to use up the extra days we'd have since we have been crushing these stages with a passion and figured everyone would be too far ahead or behind us to see them again.
Either way, we will be celebrating the Fourth of July from Fisterra, Spain.
