Cruz de Ferro and El Acebo

Monday, May 28, 2012

9:48 AM Arizona, 6:48 PM Spain

After a nice breakfast at the café next door we are on the road again this being the second day of walking the Camion with only the rutsack on my back.  We pass through Foncebadon which at one time had only one person living here who tended the church.  It is said that once many wild dogs were living here, but none were seen today.   We will climb to Cruz de Ferro at 1054m then down to El Acebo a distance of 17 km.  .  It was a fairly hard climb up but, well worth it.  There was an emotional moment especially when Lisa turned around and said you’re the only one up there.  Before she noticed the cairn was packed with people going up and down.  Almost all of the people brought a stone or memento from home to leave at the foot of the cross.  One person had ashes of a loved on to leave there.  When beginning the Camino in St Jean there was a stone from home in my possession but, it was left in St Jean due to not paying attention.  There was a second stone which was left in my bags in the monastery.  I believe that the things attached to those stones must have been taken care of long ago so it’s O.K.  There were two things I left behind at the cross which were part of some events best given to God rather than carry around.

We began a brutal steep descent down the mountain which was hard on the knees and the ankles.   The path was strewn with rocks, roots, loose soil, and pebbles making walking very hard and dangerous.  We switched to the road, which ran alongside the Camino, but the downhill grade was much too steep and hard on our legs so it was back to the trail.  After entering a narrow path we could see El Acebo ahead.  I need to stop to rest, but Lisa continues on hoping to find the couple that has her “passport.”  It is a very steep descent into the village of El Acedo and I stop at the first Albergue which was full already.  I find Lisa further on down the street and she has already secured us beds.  She is going to check out the other Albergue in town for here “passport.”  I put my stuff on the bunk, pull out my dirty clothes then head to the washing machines.  Lisa returns a bit later disheartened that she could not find the couple.  We have dinner along with another of our wonderful heart to heart talks. 

After dinner Lisa does wash and sits with some people she has met.  I wander around town then sit a bit to do some blogging.  There is not internet here so before bed we have a beer and talk with the owner of the Albergue.  It has been in the family for three generations and she seems quite happy to be in this very small town catering to pilgrims.  Everyone we talked to that evening found the trail very hard to negotiate and very tiring which caused them to walk less than planned.   While Lisa is looking for her “passport” I asked about a bus and was told we could be picked up at 9 AM in the morning.  “Would you like me to call?” She says.  “YES!” I say.  Then tell Lisa after the fact to which she readily agreed.   Her feet have not been kind to her on this short walk and again I’m concerned how she is going to make the rest of the walk, it was time for bed.

Buen Camino!