Ultreya! & Finding "My" Shell

And so the Camino is over, but I know the journey will still continue!  Ultreya - onward, go farther- words that I learned from good friends +  I will look forward to seeing where the path will lead from here and what is next !

The symbol of the Camino is the scallop shell. There are many explanations for this, but one I read said that when the pilgrim got to Finisterre, they brought back a scallop shell from the ocean to prove to those back home that they had been all the way.  These days most everyone carries one with then from the beginning of the journey.  In fact they give them out at the Pilgrims Office, but for some reason  I didn't get one and I didn't think of it til later.   I thought about buying one, but Andy said, "you can get one in Finisterre, when you've earned it!   

So when we got to Finisterre, I walked the beach for a couple hours and here's what I gathered up....

Felt like they were there just for me-different sizes and colors, though not the big whitewashed shell that others carried, to me, these are a symbol of perseverance !  Many days I doubted what I was doing or if we would make it all the way, or if it even mattered!  But, it was a great gift to find these shells and know that we had accomplished something special  

We will be on a plane home tomorrow- can't wait!!

Thank you all for sharing this journey-- your prayers, notes, encouragement & cheering us on meant so much!!  I'm sure we will continue to share the story when we return and will look forward to whatever is next!

Ultreya!