146 km to go, about 87.6 miles!!!!
Last nights monastery was nice, warm enough, and comfortable, if you like sleeping in a room of 40 people. I didn't sleep great, so I'm back in a private room for tonight.. For this last week, if I can, this is what I will probably do.
Today, I finished climbing to O Cebreiro, the town on top of the mountain, altitude 1330 meters. I did pretty well, although my sea level lungs still had a pretty good workout. My legs are strong, and they always have been, but stronger now. It's my breath that I usually have to stop for, as well as my pounding heart rate. I'm doing much better than a month ago, and I'm happy for that.
Today's weather was foggy, and misting or raining all day.
It was also cold for this Florida girl. I was dressed appropriately though, and didn't suffer any consequences. I can see how easily people could get hypothermia on a day like today. I truly understand how important it is to not wear cotton. Cotton absorbs and holds in moisture and cold.
While in O Cebreiro, I bought a pair of earrings. My treat for myself for my hard work.
Today, of all days, while walking with a woman from Australia, we missed a turn and had to retrack. Probably about 4 unnecessary km. 2.4 miles, a real sad thing on a day like today.
It's the first real missing of a sign I've made on the whole camino. Oh well....
Here are the pics from this morning, before the rain really started.
The cloud in the mountain I climbed to.
Me and the mountain, looking happy...
Entering Galacia, a state in Spain, the last I will pass through.
Entering the town at the top of the mountain.
The Spanish guy Pasqual with the peanut earring again....we practiced Spanish/English phrases as we walked for a while today.
A statue at the top of another big hill we climbed today.
I am tired but happy today. The biggest mountains are done, and there are still hills to be climbed, but one of the hardest days, today is over. I am proud of my accomplishments so far. I don't know what the downhill tomorrow is like, and they have been quite treacherous in the past. But I just take it slow and steady. I have a private room tonight. 26 euros, no sheets, I was able to get them to give me a couple of towels...I have blankets, and there is a nice warm radiator in my room.clothes I have rinsed are drying nicely. What else could one possibly need. I've showered and heading out for some vino blanco....
Tomorrow is another 20 km day, I've got another private room booked already, so,all is well with the world. In one week I will be a day out of Santiago....
This afternoon I have mapped out the last and final week of my trip... I am terribly excited to be done with this massive undertaking I have done in the spirit of God. I feel immensely happy, and hope that I can make it to the end injury free.
I heard today about a Korean girl who has been walking with a knee injury. She arrived to her albuergue with her 3 friends and was hysterical. I heard they think she had a nervous breakdown from the pressures of walking with so much pain. I can certainly understand this happening, so sad.
That's all for today, buen camino!!!!
