48. We Were Pilgrims

/ Colleen

Journey’s End by J. R. R. Tolkien
(Adapted by me)
In western lands beneath the Sun
The flowers may rise in Spring,
The trees may bud, the waters run,
The merry finches sing.
Or there maybe ’tis cloudless night,
And swaying branches bear
The Elven-stars as jewels white
Amid their branching hair.

Here at journey’s end I am,
With memories I shall keep,
Beyond all towers strong and high,
Beyond all mountains steep,
Above all shadows rides the Sun
And Stars for ever dwell:
I will not say the Day is done,
Nor bid the Stars farewell.

We woke at 7.00… we had breakfast… we went back to the albergue to pick up the arrows for our last day of walking. It rained a tiny bit but generally the sky was blue.  We saw the spires of the Cathedral a long way before the end.  So far off we thought we must be mistaken.

We walked… up hills… down hills… we walked.  It rained… It stopped.

We arrived.  I’m lost for words.  We’re at journey’s end.  I will write more tomorrow but for now it feels like waiting for the rain… whilst running up the last few metres of a hill… arms outstretched, feeling the wind against my face.

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We were pilgrims… and we walked.

14 thoughts on “48. We Were Pilgrims”

  1. The end is seemingly always hard. Many of the emotions you write on are the same we felt on our final days heading for Santiago. The sense of happiness to finish and achieve the goal of walking, and the palpable sense of loss are both lasting memories. I balanced the sense of loss with an almost immediate commencement of planning for another pilgrimage to the apostle’s resting place.

    Thank you so much for guiding me to your blog. I’ve enjoyed the ‘journey’ so much, and have taken a number of notes for your journal to use next year!

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    • I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to reply … and I agree that the only way to end one camino is to plan the next. Enjoy your Via… and thanks for reading 📚 😊

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  3. Have really enjoyed your blog. I had pretty much decided against walking the VdlP in 2017- until I read your blog. Now I’m confused.

    One thing I’m curious about – do you carry a book of poetry with you or do you have these things committed to memory? Impressive either way.

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    • The VdlP always spoke to me after ghe Frances… I knew I had to walk it and I loved every minute… even the minuts that I hated 😉

      And I wish I did know all these poems but sadly I can’t take that credit. I never planned to include poetry or pros… it just happened. And at the end of each day I simply searched for the words of others that could somehow capture how I was feeling… I’ve really enjoyed the process.

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  9. Bless you ! Finally in santiago. What a super adventure you’ve both (and Gerry at the end) had. Thanks so much for sharing your joys and pain. It’s now the end of the walk but never the end of your camino. Enjoy some wonderful creature comforts as you settle back into not ‘walking’ every day. Brilliant. Cheers, Grace

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  10. Well done my very clever sister, amazing………
    Where next?
    See you soon….
    Thank you for this incredible journey that we have all experienced through you….
    You Made it!!!!!!!
    Xxxx

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