Molinaseca

Today was an awesome day. We started off with breakfast in our beautiful apartment in El Gonso. 
 We purchased some bread, bananas, and cheese the night before which made a nice breakfast. I was even able to make a cup of real coffee!  The first part of our walk was fairly level and the air was cold, it felt good and we soon warmed up as we walked. The path soon got steeper.  At some points we were scrambling  over loose rocks and the path was washed out by running water. A challenging climb, but our legs and spirits were up to the task and we were rewarded with spectacular views.  We stopped for lunch at a small village called Foncebadón . It is really only a few albergues, but you can see how the Camino impacts these small communities. There was a wonderful restaurant where we had amazing salads (Spain knows how to make salads) and enjoyed the sunshine in the cool air. Across the "street" workers were constructing a new building. I am sure that without the "peregrinos" that wouldn't be happening.  

After lunch we continued to climb to the second highest point on the Camino, Cruz de Ferro. 

This is a most significant and spiritual place. Pilgrims carry rocks from their homes and leave them at the foot of a tall cross to signify leaving behind their burdens. We left the rocks that our children, Andrea and Alison, had painted for us before we left. Words fail me...

After walking another 2.5 km we, according to plan, called for a cab to take us to Molineseca. This is a great town. 

Many bars and people out and about. We enjoyed a great meal by the river, flanked by an old Roman bridge. As I am writing, at 10:45 pm, there is a party of sorts still going on with people from the town, kids and all. The Spanish sure know how to enjoy life.

Tomorrow we will bus to a town near O' Cebreiro. This should be the last time we need to do this, we have time to walk the rest of the way. It doesn't hurt that it's at the top of the last huge hill!