Santiago!

Santiago de Compostela, June 25, 2026. Written at Muxia, June 26th.

Dear Followers, Friends, Family, and Christine.

By the numbers: 16 days in 2024, 25 days in 2026. 790 km (285 in 2024, and 505 in 2026). 1,102,000 total steps, 398,000 steps in 2024 and 704,000 steps in 2026.

Charlie’s totals are those reflected in 2026.

We entered Santiago on June 25th. Charlie was the 324th pilgrim to receive a Compostela Certificate that day and I was the 325th. A total of 2,489 pilgrims arrived having finished the Camino on June 25th.

I brought my credential from 2024. It showing an end in Burgos, and my 2026 credential started in Burgos. Thus I was deemed to have completed the entire French route for the second time, the first time was in 2013. I had previously completed the Portuguese route twice.

It is my fervent hope that someday my grandson will be able to resume the Camino in Burgos as I did.

The practical path:

We planned to begin the final day at 6 am. However driving rain delayed our departure by an hour. Light drizzle hounded us the entire way. We could either be damp from the rain or damp from sweat under our rain gear. We chose rain over sweat.

I took very few pictures in the interest of keeping my cell phone dry.

It was both a relief and an overwhelming sense of accomplishment that Charlie and I shared standing in front of the Cathedral.

The deepest emotions didn’t strike me until I stood at the counter in the Pilgrim’s Office to receive my Compostela. My wish that my grandson were at my side could not be contained and found release in a stream of tears.

Christine, the reality is that we entered the Pilgrim’s Office as Peregrinos but we left as tourists. What has driven us every day since June 1st has been accomplished. What is before us is the challenge of holding fast to the lessons of the Camino.

Peace Everyone and Buen Camino. Pete.

PS. Some pilgrims return to their homes, an apparition from an earlier, simpler time…