Enjoying loneliness together

We walked about 32 km today. The anticipation is great and the famous eucalyptus forest is not big but very beautiful. Unfortunately, we witnessed a small forest fire today. There are unfortunately too many of them in Spain and Portugal. Just yesterday, I walked through a charred and burnt forest. The area was creepy and unreal for about 2 km of walking.

The last night on the Camino is ahead of us. We will reach Santiago tomorrow at around 11 am. It's a shame that I can't tell Fiona about it. I can only tell her tomorrow afternoon that we are on our way home. Our great journey is coming to an end. And we will somehow miss the shared loneliness.

Fiona was always with me, without talking to me, without trying to convince me of anything, she is my silent companion. In this month, she had to fear for her health - aggressive and strange dogs, she had to face the forces of nature, protect me, and always follow me. She also had to endure pain, thirst, hunger, loneliness, cold, and uncertainty, just like me. I am very grateful to her for that.

As I accidentally learned yesterday, there has been a new certificate for dogs accompanying pilgrims for about two months, in addition to the Compostela for the pilgrims. I am curious whether that is true and whether I can get such a certificate for Fiona tomorrow afternoon.

Our journey is coming to an end. I can hardly believe it, and my companion will hardly be able to believe it either.

Santiago de Compostela, our destination, is only about 20 km away. We will be going home soon. I am looking forward to embracing my wonderful family and to seeing Fiona content at home again. She has worked so hard and done so much for me. This month has made me realize how much a dog can love, and her love is boundless. There were impossible situations, she was chased by other dogs, feared the dogcatcher, shooed away by Spanish people, and even hit with a stick once. She slept alone outside in the storm, was locked in rooms and kennels, often had to run for too long when her legs couldn't handle it anymore, and had to endure impossible heat. She bravely mastered all of that. Many people were amazed that she mostly responded without a leash and only to commands.

For someone who is actually rather fearful, she is a very brave dog! I repeat that I am proud of her.

Massimo, our Italian friend, has his birthday today. But he left Irina, about 10 km behind. He wants to be alone on his birthday! I wish him all the best. Hopefully, we will see each other in this lifetime. I mourn this great but short-lived friendship on the Camino.

I don't know for sure whether we can somehow make our way back home with Fiona tomorrow. Carpooling is somehow difficult. We will probably find out if we will take the train tomorrow. Being planless is usually better. We will see.

Today, I somehow met two people who are just as planless as I am. They will decide tomorrow whether they will continue to the sea/Finisterre. I don't want that. I want to go home!

Get up early tomorrow morning and off to Santiago de Compostela! B)