Day 21, May 16, Lavacolla to Muxia by bus

Day 21, Monday, May 16, Lavacolla to Muxia by bus. 

Chris had the excellent idea of taking a taxi the short way into Santiago to the bus station. This saved quite a bit of time, anxiety and navigating challenges. We were able to enjoy our hotel breakfast and get to the bus station in plenty of time to confirm the schedule, find the platform and get our backpacks secured to safely ride in the baggage compartment 

Photo 1 shows the bus to Muxia pulling in right on schedule. 

 

The bus only took a little over two hours and we loved arriving at the ocean, though the overcast sky and fierce wind was not exactly what we had in mind. We found beds at the municipal albergue (an unusually pleasant and welcoming albergue, although they actually all are quite wonderful). We were relieved to be back in an albergue and over our culture-shock at being in a hotel. 

We're now sitting in the sun sipping beer but with every layer of our warm clothing on. We are enjoying watching local boys playing at a small skateboard park and settling rather easily into relaxed mode (after napping several hours when we first arrived. 

River listened to her audiobook of The Paradiso on the bus and in the albergue and this no doubt has great significance since River has been reading and retreading the Inferno and Purgatorio for decades and never until now (with the help of her reading buddy Peter McCorison and now the bus to Muxia) made it to Paradise.  

Photos 2-4 are from our first slow stroll through this very quiet, uncrowded, unrushed little town and along the shoreline. 

 

 

 

We realize this could be the end of our walking for this Camino, which is disappointing. But on the other hand, we have walked about 300 miles (starting at Burgos mile 176, ending Lavacallo, mile 379.6). That is quite a long walk, and we have loved it.