The Day We Walked Through A Cloud

Yesterday we walked a total of 26 KM (29 after the climb was factored in) from Rabanal del Camino to Molinaseca. The weather leaving Rabanal was overcast and very windy, but as we climbed up and up it changed and became foggy. It was like as we traveled up in elevation, we were traveling into a cloud that was resting on top of the mountain. 

We weren't able to have breakfast this morning at our albergue, so we stopped for breakfast in the next city we could find. It happened to be quite the hippy hangout but they had cereal, which is a real hot commodity on the Camino. 

After this small mountain village, we came upon the famous Iron Cross. We had carried our limestone rocks all the way from Kentucky and were ready to add them to the famous pile. Unfortunenly the weather wasn't the best, but we were still really excited to finally arrive at such a famous Camino attraction. We climbed up to the top of the pile, I kissed my rock, and we laid them near the base of the cross. 

For several KM after reaching the Iron Cross, a smile was plastered to my face. We had reached a monument that means that we are so much closer to the end. It is both sad and exciting to be about 200 something KM from the end. 

After leaving the Cross, we then began to travel further up the mountian to the highest point on the Camino (1,505 M). Eventually the weather cleared and we were able to get some great views of the mountains. 

Suddenly became rainy (we really had all sorts of weather this day). Going downhill in the rain and fog was not the best hiking conditions, so we made sure to duck into the first bar we found. For lunch we ended up in a tiny mountain town that had a few bars, but none of them had power at the time. It was just like we had traveled back in time and were doing the Camino hundreds of years ago. We got our sandwiches and coffee and enjoyed the fire that they had burning. They owners had a sweet border collie tied up outside and I made sure to give him lots of pets. 

It was such a fun and magical day. We enjoyed traveling up and down the mountain (even though it was hard on our knees). The weather was so odd. At the top of the mountain there was fog, then rain and as we traveled further down, the temperature warmed and the humidity rose. 

We arrived in Molinaseca tired and sweaty, but after such a good day, we couldn't help but smile. Days like this (where the scenery is so beautiful) keep us going. They may give us another blister (like me) but they also keep our spirits high. We had a wonderful dinner down by the river and then headed back to our albergue full and happy.   

Before going in for the night, we passed a home that was selling cherries in thier driveway. Their front yard was covered with cherry trees that were full of beautiful, ripe cherries. I asked Abe for 2 euros (there was a sign that said that was how much they cost) and the lady started filling a bag with cherries. Turns out 2 euros gets you one kilo (2.2 pounds) of cherries. She kept filling and filling the bags. She had me put some in my hands. She went to her trees and got MORE cherries. It was crazy. Abe laughed at me and said good luck carrying those tomorrow. When we came back to the albergue I made sure to share our mass amount of cherries with B, E and J and I brought some to breakfast the next morning. 

This region of the country is called the Bierzo and its known for its farming communities. Its quite lovely. 

Buen Camino!