EOTW Day 4: A Grixa to Muxia

The day ended here...

... but I knew it was a short day, so was in no hurry to get up and moving. I left the little farming village of A Grixa in full daylight

I went through the usual eucalyptus forest...

... and saw Peter Rabbit eating vegetables from Mr McGregor's garden

But the big difference today is that I didn't see any other peregrinos for the entire walk, other than briefly a couple in the distance ahead before I stopped for second breakfast

The sky looked impressive, although rain never threatened, and there was no fog so the views were clear all day

There were plenty of hórreos in evidence again, including one under maintenance (so presumably being repaired for use), and this monster, 27.3m long

The first glimpse of the Atlantic was good to see...

...but this window sill at head-height was an invitation to disaster for inattentive peregrinos

This is what remains of the Monasterio de San Xulian de Moraime, founded in the early 12th century. It is considered one of the best-preserved examples of Romanesque architecture on the Costa da Morte. It was built semi-hidden in the hills, presumably to hide from the frequent Viking raids that occurred along this coast

And I couldn't walk past the Romanesque Capela de San Roque, without recalling the previously-mentioned Psalmus Ode song

A path down the hill took us to the coast, and then we followed the road along the coast for the few remaining km to Muxia

Walking into town was a little reminiscent of coming along Oriental Parade in Wellington 

After checking in to my albergue, I headed out to the granite boulders at the far end of the cape 

Legend: Jesus's mother (Mary) sailed here in a stone (of course!) boat to encourage James when he was preaching here. The remains of her boat are still here to this day. The 'sail' was so finely balanced that it used to oscillate/rock if a person ('of pure faith') stood on it. But alas, storms broke it in 2014, so it no longer rocks, even if you do have some true faith

The Santuario da Virxe da Barca is about as exposed to the elements as it could possibly be. It was destroyed by a lightening strike in 2013, and rebuilt ar the same location

A reminder that Muxía is a tourist destination, not just a pilgrimage end. This was a bus-load following the tour guide to the front of the church (where a standing room only mass was already underway)

Just above the church is A Ferida (The Wound), a huge (400 tonne, 11m tall) sculpture honouring the volunteers who helped clean up the environmental damage following the sinking of an oil tanker off the coast in 2002

The sculpture is at location 0km, I.e. at the end of the trail to Muxia 

Back to town...

It sounds as though tomorrow's walk might be long and difficult. I'm not sure if I'd prefer difficult or easy as a final day...