Alison and Alison and the art of re-tyrement

Cycling from London to Spain

Day 47 and beyond. Santiago de Compostela to home.

A couple of days to spend exploring Santiago and some retail therapy. We didn’t have to worry about how much weight we can carry on our bikes. Just how much weight we could take on the plane.

In the Cathedral we went to a mass and watched the famous tradition of the swinging of the world’s largest botafumeiro . An incense burner that was used to make the pilgrims smell sweeter. They knew we were coming.
Streets of Santiago

Our planning for the return journey was successful. We picked up the boxed bicycles and one of the technicians took us to the airport. He chatted away in Spanish. We chatted back in a combination of Spanish, French and English amid a lot of laughter.

Alison has become almost fluent thanks to watching First Dates in Spanish. We are felices jubiladas (happy retirees) as well as bicygrinos.

Navigating through the airport terminal was a challenge.

The last few days have been eventful so that a couple of days have missed a post.

Firstly I developed an infection that necessitated a trip to the local hospital. Alison organised it marvellously, the Spanish system was excellent and I came out with a stack of medication and the infection is improving.

Began to feel more unwell on the journey home and a Covid test was positive. Alison is fine and remains Covid free.

Matron Rossiter is doing an excellent job looking after me and I am not allowed to do anything.

Housekeeper Rossiter washed the sleeping bags. She said squeezing out the water from the bags was like milking cows. She would know.
Head gardener Rossiter has been tackling the garden which has become very overgrown and given all the plants a much needed drink.

And that is it. We have had a wonderful adventure, met many interesting people, travelled through vastly different countryside, enjoyed taking part in local traditions and had a lot of fun. And we did it all ourselves. Perhaps not quite. We had a bit of help from Christophe, Yannick, Amélie, Julien, Pierre Sam, José, Monsieur Ober, Oliveira and of course all of you.

The journey of a lifetime?

This may be the end of the road on this occasion but the journey continues. We have a plan ……

Buen Camino

alisonmiddleditch

4 responses to “Day 47 and beyond. Santiago de Compostela to home.”

  1. Nicky Hill avatar
    Nicky Hill

    Wonderful, well done !

    Get Outlook for iOShttps://aka.ms/o0ukef ________________________________

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  2. Jill avatar
    Jill

    We shall miss our daily blog from the two Alison’s. Once again really well done on your adventures through France and Spain. Hope you feel better soon. X

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  3. chrisincarshalton avatar
    chrisincarshalton

    Welcome home our dear pilgrims! Although we are so pleased to see you back, we know our lives will be much the poorer for not having the excitement of your evening blog.

    Over the last 6 weeks, your reports of potentially lethal water heaters, snakes, multiple punctures, Utrecht Man, Christophe and seriously out-of-date first aid equipment have sustained us through many a dull Park Hill evening. You may well be the only Level 14 pilgrims we will ever meet.

    However Alison, we worry that it may be your new exalted pilgrim status that has caused your COVID. We have taken the precaution of submitting a paper to the Lancet about this, so the vaccine can be duly altered for all future pilgrims. Fortunately Al, your new senior nursing status has clearly acted as a safeguard.

    Take care and the biggest thank you to our favourite compostelans for giving us such a wonderful few weeks!

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  4. Malcolm avatar
    Malcolm

    Well it wouldn’t be our two Alisons if everything went 100% according to plan, Baldrick strikes again. Still Nurse Gladys swings into action and the washing is done, garden watered and weeded, that’s just for starters. Just hope she remembers to check up on the patient from time to time.
    Congrats on both your cycling achievement, marvellous, and managing to arrange a return journey, actually making it home, and that at a time when many don’t even get to take off.
    All the world is wondering what your next plans will be. Perhaps Christophe will have an idea or two.

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