The last big climb. Entering the final Spanish region on the Camino Frances.
O’Cebreiro (pronounced oh–thay–bray–air–oh) Marks a final major threshold over the Cantabrian mountains. 3rd highest peak on the Camino.
Galicia – The mountains of Galicia are the first object in 5,000 km that the westerly winds across the Atlantic hit so you can expect an immediate change in weather with frequent rain showers and thunderstorms. (Brierley)
Hi, All. I walked up that mountain- very slowly. The views were breathtaking, the weather perfect.
Twenty steps off the trail in all my gasping glory. Mountain View along the wayThe trail Mountains Crossing into Galicia Thomas said to keep going, so I sat down. Didn’t realize I’d arrived until I saw the green lady.
The bread truck rolls into the villages with its loud air horn blaring; the villagers pop out of their houses, bread bags in tow, and head to the truck. It’s surprising how fast some of the oldsters get up the hill to the truck!
Vega del Valcarce On October 08, 2019: I was very sick with a bronchial infection and stayed in this village for two days of rest. At a sidewalk table across from my lodging, I was having my morning cafe con leche and feeling extremely sorry for myself. Homesick. Sick. So far from home. All alone. Waaaaa.
Up walks this man who hands me a fig. I thank him, set it on the table. No! He says. And gestures vehemently that I am to eat it NOW! I did. And I snapped his photo. And his small act of kindness turned my day around. That was the end of my self pity. People are kind.
This year, I am staying an extra day here to find him (I’d learned his name is David -Da-veed). I brought a 5×7 copy of the photo from 2019. The pharmacist spoke English, so I showed her the photo and told her my story. She called Mrs. David, and I walked up the street to meet David and his wife. They gave me a tomato and a small jar of honey. David let me know he is 84. Mrs David is now carrying the photo down the street and showing it to all her neighbors and business owners. I am so happy this worked out. That I’m here precisely two years from the date of the fig gift is absolute serendipity.
Pilgrim Chris from the UK. I’ve enjoyed the company of this young man and his friends many times along my journey. He was also part of the group that gave me the impromptu birthday party in El Acebo. I learned yesterday that his day job is a circus performer. I invite you to watch this video all the way through- his performance gets increasingly difficult and impressive as time goes by in the video. What a graceful body and gracious spirit.
A narrow path along the road the entire day. It really wasn’t too bad because we walked along the Rio Valcarce or by woodlands and meadows. A few cows and sheep here and there.
One is tempted to walk through the middle of these narrow village streets, but cars DO come puttering through rather quickly!Thankfully, there was a concrete barrier between the path and the road most of the way. No barrier between the path and road, but very few cars came along. Lots of big pumpkins along the way. A little church on the side of the road. Usually there is a village around a church. Maybe advancing civilization replaced that part of the village with the road. Roncevalles is the first Spanish town on the Camino Frances. We start in France, cross the Pyrenees, and walk into Roncevalles.
Got some ups and downs today! Will be a long day for me – 14 miles. My max is probably 15 miles without getting too tired for the next day’s walk.
More road walking than I like today. There was an alternate route that would have been prettier, but it was longer, and with a 16 mile day, I was already pushing my daily limit (must remember I have another day to walk in the morning…and the next..and…)We walked through beautiful countryside this day.
Leaving Ponferrada: Mooned by a couple of wood statues. I did not walk around to the front!Fall is in full swing Follow the arrow The camino path always passes the church The castle across the street from my lodging. Castle-Palace of the Marquis of Villafranca del Bierzo. Built ( reconstructed) in 1515. People live in the castle. https://es.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castillo-Palacio_de_los_Marqueses_de_Villafranca
September 5: Started walking. October 17: Will arrive in Santiago October 18: A rest day. October 19: A four-day walk to Finisterre (at the Atlantic Ocean). October 26: Arrive home
Finisterre: “In Roman times it was believed to be an end of the known world. The name Finisterre, like that of Finistère in France, derives from the Latin finis terrae, meaning “end of the earth”. It is sometimes said to be the westernmost point of the Iberian Peninsula.”
We are walking along the mountains and through the woodlands again. Photo of me on the ancient Roman bridge into Molinaseca & a photo of the Templar castle in Ponferrada. And of course, paths and mooing wildlife.
Entering Molinaseca Templar Castle in Ponferrada Path up the mountain to Cruz de Ferro Mountains!They weren’t impressed by us.
Going up the mountain on October 4 was a cold and rainy trek, but down below the next day was a perfect walking day. Temps were in the lower mid-50s, little wind, and no rain.
Cruz de Ferro – History – The highest altitude on the Camino (1,505 meters/4,938 feet). Stands on an ancient ritual site that dates back as far as 2,500 years. Considered the most ancient monument of the Camino. May have been a crossroads veneration site for Iron Age Celts and then the Romans, each leaving a rock on this high point for their own gods. Today, leaving a stone here is a significant rite of passage (Beebe)
The fellow in the colorful suit was there for our safety. I imagine falls down that pile of rocks aren’t unusual.
Today’s walk brought me up the mountain to the Cruz de Ferro, one of the most significant milestones on the Camino Frances. It was a cold, rainy walk, but we were protected from the wind most of the way.
An impromptu birthday party in El Acebo Pilgrims from London, Sweden, and South America? Maybe Cuba?More of the party group. Marco in the middle from Mexico City. They were exhausted after a 32 km walk in the cold and rain (and up/down a mountain)Walked with Ken from Southern California out of Hospital del Orbigo Met a new friend, Lena from Norway
