I'll take $10 across the board. Happy Derby Day!
Today was a beautiful sunny, but chilly day. Most of the day was mountain uphill and It was a dramatic landscape of magnificent mountains. Out in the middle of nowhere was potable water! I always carry plenty so I did not refill.
There is always a story...left to the imagination.
This must be one of those "pay what you can" alburgues. I am glad I am not booked in here.
Every time I see giraffes, I say a prayer for Joan Prittie and Project Safe.
It was hard to decide which beautiful photo to include today and none of them do the sheer magnitude of the mountains justice.
I remembered this little place before I even rounded the corner. I thought it was such an interesting little store. Last time I went in and looked around...mostly souvenirs.
There were many cows and newborn calves and a farmer who was herding them along. One heifer had gotten separated from her calf and she was pitching a fit. The poor farmer kept trying to get her to go where her baby was but she didn't believe him. Finally cow and calf were reunited and you could see the relief on Mama's face.
Another memorial. This one in English. It says, "The boat is safer anchored at the port but that is not the aim of boats." What a lovely sentiment to be remembered with. Clearly a young man of only seventeen who lived life to the fullest!
Awesome!
La Cruz de Ferro. Acorrding to Camino Ways, "Cruz de Ferro (Iron Cross) is a cross on the Camino de Santiago, located between the towns of Foncebadón and Manjarín. It consists of a wooden pole about five feet high surmounted by an iron cross, a replica of the original preserved in the Museo de los Caminos in Astorga. At its base, a mound (of mementos) has been forming over the years. A legend says that when the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela was being built, pilgrims were asked to contribute by bringing a stone."
In 1982 a chapel dedicated to St. James was built by the Cross. The cross is believed to have been placed here in the 11th century by Gaucelmo. Many Pilgrims believe that whatever you leave with your rock stays there. I brought a rock from home and a prayer to go with it.
Today was everything that I love about hiking mountains. Oh, yeah...the way up was hard and steep but so what. It was worth every step to be at the top and the scenery was breath taking.
11.9 miles later (27,390 difficult steps) and this is El Acebo at a distance. El Acebo is one of those little mountain villages made of cobblestones. The smell is just like Colorado Ski Towns in the winter...the smell of burning fireplaces.
Well, the people who ride bicycles deserve some (not as much) credit as the walkers.
And I have now died and gone to heaven, pinch me to make sure. I am staying at a brand new, gorgeous spa...a spa...did you read that ...a spa. I am having a 90 minute massage at 1600 hours. It will be ten am for all ya'll and you people will be all jazzed about the derby but I will be having a massage...the hikers dream...out here in the middle of nowhere. The town is listed as having 37 people and one of them will be mine for an hour and a half. I consider it an early birthday present for myself.
So may your horse win and you all come home rich!
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