Day 10: Arzua to Amenal (14mi/23km)

Two days to go. The terrain today was similar to yesterday, and the weather has held. We did see some new hikers, who struck us as naturals.

We also passed a touching memorial to a peregrino who died just short of his goal. Some pilgrims carry small rocks with them to symbolize their journey, and many had placed them on his shrine.

The mile markers (to Santiago) are a comfort: You know you are on the right path, and the distance to Santiago continues to get smaller. Today we have less than 40 to go!

As we near Santiago, we encountered not only more cafes and more people, but more rubbish containers. Someone has illustrated them with John Lennon's lyrics from Imagine.  In need of some distraction while walking at this point, we joined a middle-aged couple from Scotland in singing Beatles songs!

Tonight we are staying in our third casa rural - a 100 year old converted mill 15 minutes from the Camino. These country cottages are nice, but we probably wouldn't stay in them again. The drive back and forth to the Way is a drag.  The local wine is good, however.

Tomorrow, the final push. We couldn't have done this without some crucial gear: Advil and Tylenol for aches and pains, sunscreen, almonds for snacks, and the essential Compeed, gauze, etc. for blisters. Of course we can't forget the walking poles, hat, Camelbacks, Swiss Army knife, Merino wool underwear, down vest, bandanas, and cycling gloves for sore thumb joints, as well as pack covers, rain pants, gaiters, and rain jackets for those days of rain.  For walking in the cold mornings it was helpful to have an additional base layer, gloves, and wool hat. 

What we could have done without: we really only needed two of everything - pants, T shirts, long sleeved shirts, socks and liners, underwear, etc. We washed things out after showering and let them dry on the radiators overnight (on in the evening and morning in this weather).  

Tomorrow - the cathedral!