5/15 A Change of Plans

Polly and I are racking up the miles.  Today I walked from Foncebadón to Ponferrada, about 27 kilometers.  They were hard kilometers...rocky, a lot of ups and downs.  But I am ahead of the schedule I made for myself by about 3 days.  So...I think I'm going to walk to Finisterre when I reach Santiago de Compostela.  The first pilgrims called Finisterre "the end of the world" and I feel very fortunate to be able to add those 89 kilometers.  I am stoked.

We left our chilly albergue this morning a little after 6.  I used the flashlight on my phone for awhile to be able to see the trail.  Maybe it's the latitude...back home we gain about a minute of daylight each day between now and the summer solstice, but here the amount of daylight at 6 am seems to be pretty constant.

We didn't have to walk very far to reach the Cruz de Ferro.  Traditionally, it has been a place where pilgrims come, bringing and leaving a rock to signify a burden that they are leaving at the cross.  I left my rock and the burden it represents, and while I am not sure whether or not that work is done, I know God is able when I am not.

Cruz de Ferro is the highest point on the Camino at 4938'.  From there, the trail descends steeply to El Acebo de San Miguel, then goes through the town of Riego de Ambrose.  I loved both of these small towns.

I did have a crazy thing happen.  In Riego de Ambros, I saw a large group of people at the other end of town.  50, maybe 60 people, mostly older.  When I got closer, I saw that some had day packs...they were walking a section of the Camino between Riego de Ambros and Molinaseco.  A very steep section, and they were walking very carefully...read...slowly.  i wanted to be polite and respectful, so I stayed at the back of the group, but I could see it was a poor tactic.  I would never get to Ponferrada.  I was going to have to summon "party" Cindi.  She is locked in a closet somewhere and seldom gets out, but today was a must.  I picked up my pace and was right behind three women..."Hola!  Buenos dias!"  I said happily!  They smiled, their lipstick and makeup perfect.  Their hesitation was just enough time for me to slide by.  And I did that 15 or 20 more times.  It was more work than the walking. 

Molinaseca looks like a great little town and I'd love to come back, but today's destination was the San Nicolas albergue in Ponferrada.  It's lovely...laundry is done, Polly and I had an "interesting" dinner which I'll tell about later, and we are in a room with two 20-somethings from Denmark.. Life is good!