Pilgrim Trail , Atlantic Crossing , Camino
Part 3 of our the Big Adventure beckons – we’ve had The Saints way from Padstow to Fowey , Bay of Biscay from Fowey to A Corunã , now it’s 4 to 6 days of the complete Camino Inglés from A Corunã to Santiago de Compostela.
It adds an edge of excitement to visit a place I’ve visited more than any other in a way that would have been common before Henry VIII committed the single biggest act of self interested vandalism in English History. ( The Brexit of the Day ) Dissolution not only affected Monasteries , Religion & Great Abbeys – it eradicated Pilgrimage , the routes forgotten over time.
This full on UK , SEA , SPAIN recreation is part of a pilgrimage revival in the UK. A movement over the past decade from many organisations from the CSJ to The Ramblers.
I might be a tad biased but this Tall Ships Camino captures this zeitgeist perfectly.
We are escorted to our own Seafaring Pilgrims Service – another warm , inclusive, appropriately short thanks for our safe arrival by our on board Rev’ – Richard Cerson. Top Bloke – will share all our adventures and most of our nights out too. His Parishioners ( Down South somewhere 
) – are lucky to have him.
… very moving and a great team picture in the Church . The last with all of us as some head for Ferrol to start a longer Camino.
We wait for a guided town tour to start.
Land still moving underfoot after sea days.
Town tours are usually mundane affairs but not this time. Escorted by professional actor William Wey who would have put Lawrence Olivier and Larry Grayson to shame with his over the top , never out of role performance. This Tour with a booming 15th century pilgrim was Engaging and entertaining.
We are still illegal aliens at this stage.
We clear customs in a hilarious but refreshing parody of border control – i.e. we all go out for a beer , already in Spain of course. Like so ….
We tour the town some more. Seeking culture and local colour.
We noticed some second glances by local law enforcement as our crew uniform has a passing resemblance to the Policia National . Still illegals 
Meet up with the lovely Mairaed and Wendy and head back to the dock area.
Only then do we head for passport control. Where they have a bandaged Tupperware box with 43 passports in it from the ship. You can’t make this up.
Stamp ! – and Officially we’ve arrived
It’s still Friday. We’re still a day early – so all back to the ship – farewell meal on board and the last of Rubics Cabin – one person can’t move without someone else moving first.
Saturday arrives . We leave with pomp and ceremony-as I described in the “Landing Party” post. I think you’ll agree our disembarkation and all the PR hullabaloo needed a post on its own .
Vaughan and I join the early group for the first few Km to show solidarity before peeling off to our hotel – and for a short while unexpectedly find ourselves leading it. Here with His Majesty’s Ambassador to Spain – Hugh on the far left and Johnnie Walker – he of the johnniewalkersantiago Insta & FB fame.
https://www.instagram.com/johnniewalkersantiago?igsh=MWVnaDNramJpOG8y
We book into our various hostels and hotels.- Vaughan and I coincidentally are both in the Mar y Playa hotel – Sea & beach in Spanish – my view is of neither. I got the bins and bike-sheds.
We start the evening with the excellent Corunã Meal WhatsApp group . Top folk every one.
Those who are staying first night in Corunã meet up for our first meal on Dry Land.
The land legs have still not fully acclimatised yet btw.
With so many shared experiences packed into such a short time and one night before the Chipping Norton massive head off we have a lot to shout about .
They head to Ferrol to start their Camino it’s a great route , scenic and little longer.
We part after a memorably noisy dinner and I walk back to the Hotel with Vaughan passed the only Air Steward training shop front I’ve seen in a town.
We saw the long lines earlier of 60 / 70 immaculately dressed hostesses leaving , confident , haughty stride they learnt here maybe – it looked like a mass audition for the ‘80s Robert Plant video – “Addicted to Love”
The Camino TSCI24 Part 3 starts tomorrow.
Xxxx
#tsci24
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