Hike: Day 28 (10/15/2017)

Beginning Point: Rabanal
Ending Point: Molinaseca
Daily distance: 15.47 miles (24.9 km)
Total distance: 331.05 miles (532.77 km)

Our hike today was gorgeous. Up we rose, climbing to the high point of the Camino Frances. The Cruz Ferro, “Iron Cross”, is a tall wooden post crowned with an iron cross. It is said to be an ancient monument, first erected by the Celts, then dedicated to Mercury by the Romans and later topped by the cross and renamed a Christian site by the 9th century hermit Guacelmo. Pilgrims for centuries have brought a stone from their home, representing their burdens or prayers and left it at the Iron Cross.

I too have brought a stone from home. It’s one that a friend gave me that has been on my meditation altar at home. It is red and I chose it because it looks like a human heart. Somewhere along my journey, probably from the many times my backpack hit the ground, my heart rock split in two. I think about how apropo that is as I do feel my heart too has opened on this trip. I left my stone at this ancient monument, along with a prayer of gratitude for all the lessons my heart has learned along the Way.

As we continue on the trail, we pass by the teeny tiny town of Manjarín, population of 1. A man named Tomas lives there and claims to be a modern day Templar, the last of his order.

A light breeze and cloud cover cooled us most of the day. The golden grass swayed gently and bird calls floated in the air. I stared at the mountains surrounding me in awe. Contemplating their size and age puts my tiny human life in perspective.

But as I have learned very well by now, those magnificent mountaintop views are followed by knee aching descents. The grade down was sharp and the terrain rough.