01 October

 Let leaves yellow, curl, fall -

fall to grass overlooking the olive river.

The ground exhales the autumn air

and trees rustle and breathe.

The quiet conversation continues

in scent and whisper

and love to love

until all rest in winter's blankets.

Camino Epilogue 0.1 - Late Harvest

 I have tilled and planted,

share-cropped the spring and summer of years

and now September fields, harrowed and brown

await the winter planting.

Camino 36 - to Santiago de Compostela

We left Lavacola on a bright warm morning. It was probably the first time in a couple of weeks I didn't need to use the hiking sticks to get started.

After a couple of hours there it was over the hillcrest: Santiago de Compostela!

We now have to find our way to the pilgrim reception office.  

They are very efficient at the office. Lots of QR codes and probably 12 desks taking care of the pilgrims as they come in. It was less than one half hour in line to get the Compostela.

We then checked in at the Seminario Menor. That is where we would spend two nights.

This is the view from the room. Fabulous. You can see the spiers of the cathedral to the right and a ferris wheel to the left.

Now, we have officially completed the Compostela, but we still need to actually complete the pilgrimage.

The sepulcher is under the high altar of the cathedral. Once you go past the sepulcher then the route goes up and behind the high altar.

*** 

We have spent about 6 weeks walking. That is about 1 million steps. This particular pilgrimage is complete. 

Still, the Camino goes on.