Day77 A Laracha - La Coruna -THE FINAL DAY!

Today we employed a new tactic for my foot!  No painkillers, but I applied a lot of tape to all the right places and we decided we would not mention the foot all the way to La Coruna.  I must say it worked a treat, helped by the thought that this would be the last trek for a long while!

We continued along the AC-552 where we found a lot more traffic than yesterday.  The road is quite narrow in places with no hard shoulder and at times it was scary just how close some of the big lorries came!  After the town of Arteixo we elected to go via the AC-415 which seemed a straighter route.  This worked well although we had to climb a few steep hills before the road levelled out!

The entrance to La Coruna was a bit disappointing as we went in through a large industrial estate.  In addition we went past the local petrol refinery.  It is a sad reflection of the world that we live in that we started our walk going past the refinery in Campamento and finished it also going past a refinery, both of which were belching pollution into the air.  We thought back to our treks along the mountain tops where we breathed clean air and longed for those days again!

The road took us straight into the city centre where we stopped for a photo at the km0 marker.  Later we made our way to the church of Santiago in the old quarter of the city where we had our last stamp on our "credencial".

A tram ride along the seafront followed before we went back to our hotel for a drink and some rest.  Tomorrow morning we are catching a coach to Santiago and hopefully a train to Madrid where we hope to spend a day or two before heading south to Gibraltar.

It still feels incredible that we have walked all this way.  Earlier this evening we were sitting at a bar having a drink when we saw a map of Spain on the wall.  We stared at it in disbelief!  This will take a long time to sink in.  I am not sure how we feel at this moment.  A bit lost, I suppose.  It is already strange not to be thinking of filling our water containers and making sure we have some fruit and dry fruit for the journey tomorrow.  A short day of 15 miles or a long one of 22?  Where are we stopping for the night etc etc.

It is ironic that tomorrow it will take us just one hour to travel by coach from here to Santiago!

Today we were also able to reflect on why we started this walk.  In remembering William, we were also trying to highlight his love of music and his desire that the music scene in Gibraltar continue to flourish.  Towards the end of last year I wrote to the Chief Minister of Gibraltar, The Hon. Peter Caruana, suggesting that the Government might like to mark the 10th anniversary of William's death in some way.

I am delighted to say that he replied immediately and proposed that I speak with the Minister for Culture, The Hon. Edwin Reyes, to consider staging a suitable event.  This I have done and with the help of the Gibraltar Philharmonic Society who are making all the arrangements, a concert is being held at St Michael's Cave in Gibraltar on 2nd September 2010.  Jose Maria Gallardo del Rey, one of the world's leading classical guitarists will be playing the "Concierto de Aranjuez" one of my brother's favourites and one which he played many times with many of the world's leading orchestras.  William's Ave Maria will be sung by Andrea Martin, a local Soprano, who William encouraged to pursue a musical career.  The conductor will be Gibraltar' own Karel Mark Chichon, who is now recognised as one of the leading conductors of his generation. It will be a fitting tribute to William.  Full details of the concert will be available soon.

A few years I walked the Thames Path in memory of William.  A man, Benjamin Spender, turned up at the start of the walk.  It turns out that when he was 13 William taught him to play the guitar.  He now teaches classical guitar at the School of Music & Performing Arts at Bath Spa University.  He has kept in touch with me these past few years and recently sent me a note from which I will quote the following, "Do give my regards to Judas Bensadon if you see him in Gib - we were both "disciples" of William in the early 70's.  Charles Ramirez had already left to study at the Royal College Music by then so I never got to know him.  Charles is now Professor of Guitar at Trinity Guildhall, and in his book, "Technical Development for Guitarists" which is now a major publication in the guitar world, he gives the following dedication "With thanks to the inspired teaching of William Gomez MBE........"

William's legacy lives on and it is imperative that the current Gibraltar Government and all subsequent Governments ensure that music always forms part of Gibraltar's great cultural heritage.