Day 34 – nearly there

Renay Weir
Oct 5, 2017
3 min read

Updated: Sep 10, 2022

Day 34 – Negreira to Oliuvera – 34kms, 9.5 hours.

I suppose its fitting we walk 34 kms on our 34th day. Ugh! 34 kilometre days are loooonngg days.

But we did it. Im not sure whether its the best time to right a journal as soon as you arrive, and just crash onto a bed, utterly exhausted because you can only think of the hard parts of the day but hey at least it’s honest.

You spend the last part of the walk wishing you were already there but as the town approaches your feet aching with every step and then youre reminded of how much more your feet hurt once you stop walking, that you are scared to stop. I cant describe the pain of your feet at the end of the day. Or the aches in your legs! You elevate your feet which is meant to be good, but all the blood rushes from them and its hell on earth. The worst pins and needles and you’re feet swell! But here i am doing it every day. And im so tired that as per usual i probably wont even take my clothes off before showering. You stink, you sniff your clothes to see which is cleaner (not clean, “cleaner”) to put on after showering. Or if youre anna, you stand there sniffing youre backpack straps, complaining of how much they absolutely stink, then ask you to smell them. Ill be right…ill take your word

Today was hot! 30+ degrees. Full sun all day, no shade. The landscape has turned more to dairy farms, lots of them. And my goodness they stink! Most cows are housed in stone buildings in the villages with the homes on top. No thanks.

Id like to say we did pretty well with our walk today. We just took our time, stopped at every town for a cold Aquarius (new favorite electrolyte drink) and hilariously found out that anna and i had the same jaw surgery – just opposite ways! Ha.

The path took us through eucalypt bush today with a sandy path amd maybe cause i know we’re nearing the coast but for a second i was transported to South West Rocks, walking down to the lighthouse beach. Everything about this part of the walk was the same. The smell of the bush, the heat, the humidity, blue skies. The only things it lacked were snakes, kangaroos and the beach.

The town we’re in tonight is super cute, all little old stone buildings. Our albergue is split across a bunch of these buildings. Anna and i probably being the tallest girls on the camino, have chosen the smallest house imaginable, called the Casa Peqeña – literally ‘small house’. Its hilarious.

Its our last night on the camino so its only right we head out for our last Pilgrim menu for dinner.

The thought of tomorrow excites me and exhausts me all at once. Its another 35km day so i cant get ahead of myself. Need to remember to be patient and to enjoy each moment.

Im not scared like most people are of finishing. Theres a sombreness with people that this is the end and the next day youre on a flight home. But i’m not. This was only just the beginning.

Its been 12 consecutive days walking without a rest day. Whilst I feel i could keep walking, i am ready for the end.

R. X