Sarria

Last day on the bikes and I’m not that sorry to see them go. There’s the pure discomfort, although we have that mostly figured out, but I realize that I miss being able to just zone out like you can when you are on foot. And I miss just talking with the boys. We chat a bit when we stop to rest or take pictures, but it isn’t the same.

Most of all though, I miss watching them spend time together. I have dozens of pictures of them walking side by side, talking about whatever brothers talk about when things are simple and their wholes lives are in front of them, and I know they may never have moments like these again. My feet can’t wait for this adventure to end, but my heart wants it to go on forever.

Galicia is everything that Castilla y León is not. There’s no wheat, the terrain has some contours, and trees outnumber people. We make a stop in O Cebreiro for breakfast before starting our push up and over the ridge that separates us from Sarria. There is some interesting history in O Cebreiro and some other time I could see spending a day here understanding it all but the forecast is for 104 degrees today and we need to keep moving.

We cross the summit fairly early, knowing the worst is now behind us.

The miles we do have left today are almost all downhill and we’re able to beat Efe Bomba’s bus into Sarria, drop off our bikes, and hide out in our air conditioned apartment for a few hours before heading over to the station to meet her. Given how dry it has been the ash raining from the sky is a little disconcerting, but nobody here seems bothered by so it so maybe it happens every Sunday.

Looking ahead, it appears this heat wave is finally ending so the next (and last) 60 miles or so should be comparatively pleasant. The timing is perfect as walking this section is the minimum required to get a compostela and Efe Bomba is dead set on sticking with us the whole way. There are a few pretty long days in there but think she’ll be just fine.