Oct 1 – O’Pedrouzo

“You are the only one that has the power and the responsibility to pick yourself up.” — Mary Holloway

I began the day with a hearty breakfast, savoring a quiet moment before the miles ahead. The morning air was cool and full of promise as I tightened the straps on my pack and set out on a 27-kilometer trek. The trail wound through rolling hills and sleepy villages, the scent of eucalyptus drifting on the breeze. Kathleen had set off in the dark, her figure already a memory on the horizon, and we plan to reunite in the town O’ Pedrouzo this afternoon….tired perhaps, but fulfilled by another day on the Camino.

The journey led me once again through a patchwork of farmland and forest….the familiar rhythm of fields giving way to shaded woodland paths. It’s a landscape that has accompanied much of this pilgrimage, quiet and steadfast, with the scent of earth and pine lingering in the air.

Today felt different….quieter somehow, more charged with emotion. Villages appeared like mirages between the trees, offering brief moments of rest and connection before the road stretched onward again. As the city Arzúa came and went, the trail seemed to narrow and the air grew still, filled with that quiet awareness that the end is near. I could hear the soft murmur of other pilgrims ahead and behind…each of us walking with our own thoughts, our own mix of fatigue and anticipation. By the time O’ Pedrouzo finally came into view, it felt like a gentle pause before the last chapter…a place to breathe, reflect, and gather myself for tomorrow’s walk into Santiago de Compostela.

I met Kathleen at our accommodations, both of us dusty and weary from the long day’s walk. After a quick shower and a change of clothes, we set out in search of an early dinner..a much-needed refuel after the day’s journey. We found a cozy little spot tucked along the main street, the kind of place that hums softly with conversation and the clinking of glasses. Dinner was a beautiful plate of black rice with tender langoustines, rich and briny with the taste of the sea, paired with a simple tomato salad bursting with the sweetness of local harvests. It was the perfect meal to close the day…humble, satisfying, and full of quiet contentment

My thoughts: The journey felt both familiar and new.. a beautiful stretch of countryside that I’ve traveled before, yet it seemed to speak to me differently this time. The warmth of the sun and the endless blue sky carried a quiet comfort, a sense of peace that settled deep within me. My feet ache and my body feels the weight of the many miles behind me, but each step still feels meaningful and a reminder of why I came back. This journey is drawing close to its end, and that realization sits tenderly in my heart. I’m filled with gratitude for the chance to be here again, to walk this sacred path across Spain, and to complete my third Camino. It’s more than a journey of distance; it’s a journey of renewal, reflection, and quiet joy.