Day 22
Dawn was a non-starter. I was out for my hike by 5:15 and was able to make it to Foncebadon by 7. However, a heavy fog rolled in and consumed the mountaintop.
As I saw it rolling toward the town, I wrote off seeing the cross in the light of dawn and resigned to get First Coffee to warm my hands before heading on. I was really glad I hadn’t busted my back to make it to Fancebadon last night (as it was – yesterday I did almost 60,000 steps.)
And i was okay with this morning’s experience being something completely different to what I’d anticipated. It was beautiful in its own way. I’d brought with me two items to leave. A stone from home with a laminated QR code for charity:water. And, I’d found a flat stone along the way that looked to me like a tear or drop of water. It’s not just the tokens – they’re left with prayers.
The cross was special, even in the fog.
And the mountains and valleys after the cross were gorgeous.
The heather was buzzing with honeybees.
The walk down the mountain was as difficult as I remembered- so I was glad that this morning I’d portered my pack to Molinaseca. I’d hauled it with me up the mountain but today I knew it would be stressful. Had it not been for good trail shoes with support, a knee brace, and my poles – I don’t think I would have safely made it. The path downhill is steep and rocky. Some parts are embedded rocks, which would be slick, if wet.
But the majority of it is a combination of loose larger stones and gravel. This, combined with the ruts in the path, make it really treacherous.
I’d checked my pack ahead to an albergue called Compostela – but the owners had closed it for the day for family festivities. My pack had been sent to their sister albergue just outside town. I’d originally thought to haul it back to town and try to find a hotel – but decided to just stay here and then walk back to town for dinner.
Laundry is being done in the machine for the first proper wash in a while. It’s a tank top and shorts day at the moment because there was no way I was doing laundry last night.
More later…
If you’d like more information about my walk for charity:water, please follow this link. Thank you!
https://www.charitywater.org/marilyn-peterson/marilyn-s-camino-for-water
With most comes some mystery. Hope it had a different beauty. Your shadow reminds me a Mary Poppins! I bet floating down that path on an umbrella would have been a good option. Travel well.