And the….

 …Botufumeiro swung at the 12:00 Pilgrim Mass. Fourth time arriving in Santiago de Compostela and the 4th time I have seen it swing. I am extremely fortunate as the Botufumeiro swings on a dozen religious days or when someone/group pays for it to swing.

In 2014 after the completing the Camino Frances I was overcome with emotion the first time I saw this. Today many attendees had their phones out recording however I just wanted to enjoy the moment.

Here is a YouTube short video of the Botufumeiro for anyone interested

Botofumeiro

On our way to the cathedral we passed through the plaza and met Sixteen from France and congratulated her. Off to the side facing the Cathedral…backpack still strapped on…sitting down with legs crossed was a young pelegrina.

Tears were flowing down her face…she kept wiping them away…finally just putting her head down and crying in a scarf. Whatever her reason for walking…whatever distance she had travelled…the stark emotion really captured what many feel upon completion of a Camino walk. 

I did not want to interfere with her moment as it was clear to me that this was not a physical issue…it was simply what she needed to experience.

Paulo and I lined up 11:10 am to enter the cathedral which was perfect timing as a good sized lineup was already ahead of us

We found one of the last remaining seats facing where the Botufumeiro swings. Pilgrim Mass seemed to go very quickly where the priest lists the countries of origin for pilgrims obtaining Compostela’s that day. Brazil 🇧🇷 and Canada 🇨🇦 were mentioned. 😊

Attending the mass one has no idea if the Botufumeiro will swing…if it does it will close the mass. Suddenly out of a side door a procession of tiraboleiros came out in their purple robes. The atmosphere immediately became electric…and the Botufumeiro swung.

Other pilgrim walkers we saw at different times today and congratulated were…

- Sarah from Vancouver whom we met as she was walking in to Santiago de Compostela 

- Cele and Kirsten from Germany

- Sarah from Taiwan

- Victoria from Lithuania 

- Marie from Calgary

- Qu’on from Belgium

- Derrick from Netherlands

- Roger from Switzerland 

- Anna from Germany

- Alex from Germany

It’s incredible to have met so many pilgrim walkers along the way…and to be able to exchange congratulations when everyone has achieved their goal! 

Prior to the mass we lined up at the Pilgrim’s Office to obtain our Compostela’s which are certificates for completing a Camino walk of at least 100kms into Santiago de Compostela.

Holy the process which now includes QR codes which pre-fill key information about the Camino walk is so much smoother than 2014! In and out in 15 minutes or so.

Lining up Paulo saw a notice about a Distance Certificate. I joked with Paulo that 331 kms really did not warrant a special certificate…he agreed…then proceeded without my knowing to obtain one.

As I was getting my Compostela I thought what the heck I will get one as well! We laughed when we compared what we each did!

Paulo was not impressed with the picture I took of him which somehow makes him look like a stunned midget. I thought it was perfect 🤣 Sarah (Taiwan) is a professional photographer and she was in tears laughing and pointed out multiple flaws with my picture taking abilities.

Naturally I am so very proud of this outstanding picture of Paulo. 👏

A few things to followup at home.

- I think I need…ok I want… my own stamp like Hob and Deb. Both my brother Marc and nephew Jacques are very capable artists. Maybe one of them will design an appropriate stamp for me. 🙏

- My Tilley hat absolutely reeks…I have the poorest sense of smell ever but the hat stinks. The last time I (well it was really Paulo) washed a Tilley on the 2022 Camino Primitivo it was a disaster.

So when I get home I will contact my good friend Ken who is an expert Tilley hat washer and ask if I can drive to his home an hour away to get expert help. Ken has in the past said sure however he has cautioned there are NO guarantees. Well nothing in life is guaranteed but I have faith in Ken’s abilities!

- Suunto Race Watch mystery and miracle turnaround! Why did this happen? In the months leading to the Camino Norte walk I fervently tested my new watch. I finally had it down to a science. Use the Sunnto to be the “official” km tracking and use Wikilocs on my phone to follow pre loaded Wikiloc tracks and hear beeps when off track.

What could go wrong…well many many things! First Paulo shows up with his fancy upgraded Garmin watch. No big deal…I have a Suunto!

Next the fellow that pre recorded the Wikiloc tracks simply liked walking on highways and not the Camino Norte actual routes so beeps were useless.

However Suunto was really in the dog house for walking days 1 - 7 as it was mysteriously way off both Wikilocs and Garmin tracking - ugh 😩 78.4% of actual.

Then on day 8 the pattern mysteriously shifted and for days 8 -  12 Suunto was 99.3% of actual 😊. I have no idea why as I recalibrated…as per instructions…on day 2! So I am curious as to why this happened. I will likely never find out.

However one thing I know for sure Suunto is the equal or better than Garmin 😊😊😊.

- Paulo and 15 year old son Pedro are considering walking the Camino Portuguese from Porto to Santiago de Compostela in 2026. Paulo has asked if I would consider creating a “plan” for them. Yes that sounds like fun 🤩 and will certainly gladly spend a few 😉 hours doing so. I so hope they have this experience together!

Tomorrow on to Porto…a day there then back home 🥰.

Sitting here I am thinking about how extremely fortunate I am. I have long known that one of those good fortunes is having the ability and time available for these long walks…a brief summary as I reflect on this.

Camino walks

- 2013  Via Jacobi Switzerland from Rorschach to Geneva

- 2013 Via Gebennensis France from Geneva to Le Puy en Velay

- 2013 Via Podiensis France from Le Puy en Velay to St Jean Pied de Port

- 2014 Camino Frances Spain from St Jean Pied de Port to Santiago de Compostela 

- 2014 Camino Finistère Spain from Santiago de Compostela to Finistère

- 2018 Camino Portuguese Portugal from Lisbon to Santarem; Porto to Santiago de Compostela 

- 2022 Camino Primitivo Spain from Oviedo to Santiago de Compostela

- 2022 Camino San Salvador Spain from Leon to Oviedo

- 2025 Bray Celtic Camino Ireland from Bray to Dublin 

- 2025 Camino Norte Spain from Aviles to Santiago de Compostela 

Non Camino Walks 

- 1996 Khumbu Valley trek Nepal from Phaplu to Dimboche two days from Everest Base camp and back

- 2015 Kumano Kodo Nakahechni route Japan

- 2015 Thames River walk England from Oxford to Windsor

- 2023/2024 PEI Island Walk Canada circumference of PEI from/to Charlottetown

- 2023 UK Wainwright Coast to Coast walk England St Bees to Robin Hood’s Bay

- 2025 Kerry Way Ireland from/to Killarney

Next Long Walk

This planned walk is one that I am so very much looking forward to. Very brief details are a circular route through the Cotwolds area of England from/to Moreton-in-Marsh in May 2026. 72 kms over 7 days with an extra day in 3 locations…all organized by Mickledore Travel.

The group Dawn and me, Carol and Leonard who are longtime friends of ours dating back to 1976 3rd year University Stats class where I noticed/talked to this goofy looking fellow Leonard form this amazing group!

A couple of photos likely 1980-1983 circa on canoe trips. Carol and Leonard were experts…Dawn became proficient very quickly…I was/am unbelievably woeful! 🤣

Not sure if I will be blogging or not on this long walk…TBD 😊

Leonard, Carol, Me, Dawn

Me in trouble again!!!