I walked across a country

Today I started walking with a couple from North Carolina I have gotten to know on the Camino Finisterre (and enjoyed quoting John Mulaney comedy bits with). It was overcast but a nice temperature and great views as we walked. Soon we got to a cafe we had just seen our friends exit, so we caught up with them. As we walked, they tried to convince me to stay with them on the way to Finisterre. But at the round-about, which is where it splits, I indeed decided to go to Muxia.

As it turns out, when I am the only pilgrim walking the path, I take wrong turns. In my defense, if you don't want people walking up a wooded path, then don't put the marker at the trail head. That was a fun hour-and-ten-minute detour.

As I made my way up an incline, I was focused on the uncertain ground. I snapped my head up and let out an excited gasp. There was the ocean ahead of me! I sang a song and danced my way down the hill. I am no lyricist and my song was one line, "I just walked across a country."

On this journey have seen fields of purple and yellow flowers, but today was so happy for the blues of the ocean. I have heard coo-koo birds, peakocks, and so many other birds, but I smiled on hearing the seagulls and the crash of waves. I have had 50mph winds chill me to the bone, and had snow and rain pelt my face, so I was grateful for the sunshine and ocean breeze. I have smelled manure, sulfur, flowers, and grass, but today smelled the sea.

After another unexpected detour thanks to wrong directions by a local, I finally arrived in Muxia after 9 hours. I checked into an albergue and got some dinner. I decided to take it to go and ate it on the beach.

I then checked out the reason for my visit - the church on the ocean. It wasn't as close to the water as I understood it to be when I has heard about it. It is a simple church that is right on the rocky shore. I sat and watched waves crash for about 45 minutes. I don't know why waves captivate me so. I have pictures of waves from vacations around the world; I never tire of them.  I just love the aquatic chaos.

I was going to sit until sunset, but the sun hid behind clouds making it a bit too cold to wait the hour and a half. I did return with another layer just before sunset. As I stared at the water, more and more people gathered. You'd think we were sitting to watch a summer blockbuster the way everyone was choosing their rock to perch upon.

As I shared this moment with pilgrims I recognized, but didn't really know, I wondered what draws so many people to a sunset. Is it just the beauty? The tranquility? Does it bring them in touch with nature? With their creator? I don't know, but I'd like to think it's a longing. We are all created in God's image, so we have His goodness in us, as well a desire - unconscious as it may be - to be close to Him. He gave us this wondrous creation all around us, which I have been blessed to enjoy for weeks on end, and I think it's inherent in us to connect through this gift.

With one day remaining, I am so happy for this day. The day I made it across Spain.