After 11 weeks on the trail we finally reached the ‘End of the World’ at Cape Finisterre. Our final few days on the Camino Finisterre had their challenges but arrival on the cool, glittering Atlantic coast was worth it. Cape Finisterre was the ‘proper’ ending we had been hoping for and we initally enjoyed the luxury of not having to hike- although soon enough we started to feel the loss of our simple and satisfying trail life.
The week got off to a difficult start with the shadow of Brexit looming over our thoughts and sapping our motivation. After a wild swim broke the spell, we focussed again and the GR1 treated us to a glorious traverse of the Picos Regional Park before ascending to it’s finale at the pass of Puerto de Tarna.
After a short, unplanned break from the trail, we have arrived back in Spain to complete our GR1 adventure. 400 miles remain on our journey to Santiago and mythical Finisterre, and we return refreshed and looking forward to our ascent into the mountains of Cantabria.
In week 4 we complete our journey through Catalonia and cross into Aragon through the mighty Mont- Rebei gorge. We walk through lost landscapes of abandoned villages, lose the GR1 on a few occasions and end with a tough climb into the magnificent canyon country of the Sierra de Guara Natural Park- one of our favourite places ever!
In week 3 the GR1 got tougher as we plunged into the jumbled geology of the Sierra de Cadi. There were some bird highlights, plenty of dog encounters (good and bad), some logistical difficulties, heavy packs and few more hotels than planned. A timely decision at the end made all the difference.
Week 1 of our walk across Spain on the GR1 ‘Sendero Historico’. In 6 days we have ascended from the blazing Coastal plain to into the deep woods of the lonely Sierra Garrotxa.
Camped on the Mediterranean coast and poised to begin the GR1, we are tired from travel and frazzled from planning, but the ideals behind the journey are still intact. A final review of thoughts before the long walk west.
“Because in the end, you won’t remember the time you spent working in the office or mowing your lawn. Climb that Goddam mountain.”-Jack Kerouac Beget-Albanya- Figueres- Cap de Creus Perhaps it is best to start week 9 with the ending…and a few statistics! We did indeed reach the Mediterranean at Cap de Creus, 62 days after we left the crashing…
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