Closing the trip loop

So much of this trip will be remembered. There were many beautiful and challenging moments.

Even though I am past my formative years, it still felt to me like one of those gifts that continues to shape the view one can have of the world. I think the kids will find this to be the case for many years to come. We had our difficult and beautiful moments.

I came away with a renewed sense of the great amount of love we share. Lucky kids, lucky me.

Day 6: Padron to Santiago de Compostela; why am I doing this?!?

I started the day with a strong feeling that I could have spent this hard earned time relaxing on one of my favorite beaches in SoCal or in Palm Springs or at any number of places that would not have caused me any physical pain. The complexity of parenting 3 kids in various stages of independence, emotional development and responses to their own challenges on the Camino furthered this feeling. It was suddenly all very hard and I considered grabbing a taxi and forgetting the whole thing. 

But the kids inspired me. We had arguments and challenges and general bad behavior at times, but the kids never seriously considered quitting. Some of them pouted, some of them got angry, some yelled, (well ok, we all yelled), some cried, but the kids were committed and not one of them threatened to quit. Connor walked by my side the whole of the last two days (my pace a crawl next to his as he had been the fastest of all of us) urging me not to give up, assuring his sisters we would meet them in the next town.

I saw each of the kids go through their own individual pain (both physical and emotional) but never waiver. 

So we trudged on. Turning one of the most mundane activities, walking, into an exercise of self affirmation. Yes. It's hard but it works.

Day 5: let's not talk about Day 4

Hamstring issue developed into something called plantar faschia, never had that but there is a first for everything!

Serious stuff of pain. More chocolate required. 

Day 5 was Caldas de Reis to Padron. About 18 km of lovely landscape ending at a welcoming albergue.

Day 3: Beautiful scenery and mutinous hamstring, about 15miles

Day started with steady rain. Kids had fashioned additional rain protection for backpacks from industrial strength trash bags. Climbing was steep and constant today and within a few hours I felt my right hamstring seize. Terrible. And unable to do much about it. Walk today was about 18km but it took me all day due to my limp!

Day 2: O'Porrino to Redondela, rain, wind and some emotional fire in about 10miles!

Day 1: Valença to O'Porrino, 15mile