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There is a strange phenomenon on this trip that I feel more exhausted after the shorter days than on the longer ones. I remembered this as I was leaving today, but couldn’t avoid repeating it. Nothing a siesta couldn’t fix though.

After spending a lot of time tuned into my audiobook this week, I decided to keep my headphones out for most of the day. I spent most of the walk with two women who I kept running into town to town but never conversed long enough to learn their names. I learned they were both teachers, both walk rather fast, and both have an obsession with collecting every stamp they come across for their pilgrim’s passport.

I also ran into all five people in my dorm last night along the trail again. Another teacher from the Lehigh Valley is walking with a friend from college (who teaches in Arizona – American teachers are a pretty large demographic here!) There were also three college kids from Madrid who started a few days ago and couldn’t fathom going for a month straight.

As I approached the 50 km mark, I considered blowing off my master plan and just walking as late into the afternoon as I could. Shortly after this thought, there were ominous clouds overhead. While it never actually rained, I still stopped in Ribadiso as planned.

When I planned out the final week into Santiago, I worked around the premise that this was the town I stay in the night before Santiago. The town itself is not special – it’s a little village along a river where locals apparently enjoy testing fireworks in the daytime. No, I chose this as my last albergue before Santiago because it sits 42.5 km from the cathedral.

In American numbers, 26.3 miles from the cathedral – just past marathon distance.

It may seem strange (or just stupid), but I felt finishing with a marathon would add an exclamation point to the end of the journey. I know it’s not the same as running a marathon, but the 25 lb. backpack should count for something.

It will be 4 miles further than my longest day yet, but I’m hoping the adrenaline of finally reaching Santiago will carry me in the end. It’s not a race, but I expect to get there in time for the 7:30 PM mass. (I’ll buy myself an extra ice cream if I make the 6 PM)

It’s very cool and cloudy here tonight, but the forecast is sunny with a high of 75 F tomorrow. Sounds like a great day for a long walk – see you in Santiago!