Philip Bak
@philipbak
Programmer | Epic Games | Fortnite
Fuming that "I Want My Hat Back" by Jon Klassen isn't on this list. A children's book that rivals David Fincher's Seven for shocking endings.
Back home and looking over the last few treasured days. They say it's the people that make a Camino but it's the bizarre way we randomly come together. One day a nod on the path, next a chat, next you're together in a hostel, then your group is having a big meal together on the final night. Magic.
20km last day and it was like Christmas. Everyone smiling. Buckets of love all round. Such a great two weeks.
A long penultimate day but so close now. 20km and I can rest. Thanks to all you lovely people who threw a pound/dollar/euro my way. SpecialEffect are such a great cause. www.justgiving.com/page/phil-go...
The credential. Each pilgrim carries one and collects stamps at hostels, cafes or crazy people at the side of a remote path. Some value the compostella (certificate) at the end but this is the treasure for me. Each one a story.
Blimey I just looked and I’ve doubled the target. You lot are lovely. An environmental storytelling shot from today. Why are the remotes here tonight shrink wrapped? What horrors led to this protection requirement?!! Big “Honestly, I fell on it” energy
Two days of walking left. 25km tomorrow and 20km finale to the cathedral. Everyone is buzzing with excitement. It’s so close now…
A year ago today I walked into foot doctor Superman Roi’s place in a mess. He patched me up & got me over the finish line. Today some of our group was in trouble. I took a chance & he was still there… he did it again, getting them fixed for the last 75km. Superman Roi is this pilgrim’s hero today
Crazy day for lots of reasons. Walked with friends, helping each other out. Real heartwarming stuff. And the excitement for the last stretch is palpable.
“Yeah he ordered a pistachio donut, I bet he’d love a free plate of cold sick and bread too!”
Day 8: Vigo to Redondela. Climbed out the city and walked through the trees and down to join the Central Portuguese route. The coastal path ends here. Lots of pilgrims and it’s the mainline Camino caravan to Santiago from today.
Day 7 to Vigo: Big city for Saturday night. Longest day so far… and hottest too. Made it though. Still going…
It seems I’m walking along Amiga Ball Promenade this morning. Big day today. Over 27km to the city of Vigo. Crazy hot too so I’m trying to get a lot done before the bloody sun starts his nonsense.
Day whatever. Really tired but lovely views. Thanks for donating. Wash clothes then bedzzzzzz
I love the cakes around here. Just the sheer size of them. If anyone from Big Cake is reading I’m totally down for bribes, sponsorships. A lovely American lady at my last hostel asked if I was doing the Camino for religious reasons and I said, “is cake a religion?”. I _think_ she knew I was joking.
Crossed into Spain, with an emotional stop in A Guarda. Last time I arrived and left behind my little toenails. Dropped by with a bunch of flowers to say thanks. She removes pilgrims’ toenails daily, so she didn’t remember me, but liked the flowers. Now the 2-day wild remote bit by the sea.
Last day walking in Portugal. Crossing the border into Spain in the morning. A fantastic hostel (I stayed at last year) tonight with a communal meal. Tough, but I’m still going and I see you generous buggers have blasted through my donation target. You are all lovely. Cocktails all round.
Passed this garden earlier today, directly on the trail. The more you zoom in and look the weirder it gets. You could shoot an entire SAW movie in this garden.
Day whatever: I’ve given up doing these daily, I keep forgetting to stop/start the tracker & it eats the battery. Yesterday was really hard. Today turned it all around. Last year I had to walk past the hilltop church without going up. Unfinished business and then some.
Thanks Mike. I’m sat at a cafe on top of a hill. My lads teddy moaning he can’t see the view.
Santuário do Sagrado Coração de Jesus. Can see our house from up here. Amazing to look down the coast and see where I was 2 days ago.
Day 2. Amazing what having a sleep does to the mood. 6am start. 24km done. Lovely country and people. Feel feeling it but intact.
Not a bad first day given I’ve yet to go to sleep. Midnight train to airport. 5:30am flight. Straight to walking. Birthday party invites to those who donated. Thanks so much.
