Day 35 LaFaba to Fonfria June 8th

22 km (12 miles) 400 meter (1200 feet) climb over 3 miles. Very steep and rocky.
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!!!!

Day 34 Trabedelos to La Faba June 7th

Km traveled about 13.5 (8.6 miles) elevation gained 320 meters (960 feet)

No wireless today, so I will post this tomorrow, when wireless is available.
Today started out on country roads, which were very nice, and then we transitioned to a very steep, rocky path. The weather was cool, with on and off rain. Not bad.
I had a good day, with the mountain dedicated to women. While I was walking, I was thinking of my grand girls, and prayed for them as well. Lucy, Harper, Finley, and little Claire.
Lots of animals seen today.






Pretty little kittens.


A baby foal and its mom.


Lots of little brooks and streams...






The hugest snail, about 6 inches long...


And a very rocky trail up....


I am sitting outside of a monastery recommended by many. It's chilly but I am well. I finish climbing the mountain tomorrow.

I have to share something I saw today. Standing outside if our albuergue was a man with a peanut attached to his ear. On further inspection, I decided it wasn't an earring. It was a full peanut in the shell. I had to ask him what it was for. He told me he glued it on there to help him quit smoking. And he said that it works!!! I will be opening my stop smoking clinic when I get home $50 per peanut gluing.... This has to be the strangest thing I have seen thus far on the camino.







Tonight I pitched in on a communal meal.
We made spaghetti, garlic bread and fruit salad.
I ate with Jonathan, far left from Quebec, who cooked, Carla from holland, Elizabeth from New Jersey, Hazel who youncant see from Swizerland and Paul from Arizona. A great meal with fellowship. A first communal meal on the camino.


Happy Friday!l
And I hope I make it over the mountain. Shipping my pack again... Feet still bad.


Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Day 32 Cacabelos to Trabedelo

Km walked about 22 km (12 miles) elevation gain, about 100 meters (300 feet)



It was a great walk today. The day was cool and cloudy, perfect for walking.
I decided to ship my pack today. They have a service, a quite nice one, I might add, where you can pay 7 euros and a taxi service will take your pack to your next designated stop. A great thing for people who can't or are tired(like me).
It made a big difference in how I am feeling today. I bought just a string little daypack for my water, valuables and raincoat.
I put my raincoat on three times today, and each time I was successful in warding off the rain.

Today I walked through the town where the 6 fingered man in Spain lives. Inigo Montoya ( I actually remember his name from the movie the princess bride) would be happy to know that he lives in the little town of Valtuille de Arriba
Here is a picture of his hand print.....














The path was nice today there were grape vines
Many trees,



There were cherry trees, which I had a few,



And there were almond trees, which were pointed out to me...


There was much crop tending and picking going on...



I had a good day, this is a picture of me and a Spanish professor from Italy, who is walking the camino with 14 of his students. He's 68, and I think he said he's done the camino or parts of it 4 times. He always has a pouch of wine with him in the afternoons. Nice guy, named Eleazer.
He collects flowers all day for his hat and staff. A true believer of the spirit of the camino.




Tomorrow is my big climb up the mountain O Cebreiro. I am only going up halfway and will stay in a monastery run by a German Confraternity. So it will be about 13 km only but about a 320 meter ( 960 feet) climb. I'm not sure if there will be Internet, but will post if I am able.
All is well, except toes, but the rest of me is having a wonderful time. I'm getting closer and closer to the end.
Take care everyone, and thanks for your love and supportive comments

Tomorrows mountain climb is dedicated to the women in my life.
My walking sticks will walk to the beat of
Mom-Andrea- Danyel-Sydney, and then Nancy-Monet-Chris-Rita-Dolly
I know those strong girls will get me up there!!

Day 32 Acebo to Cacabelos

Km walked about 27 , about 16.8 miles. Elevation descent 650 meters about 1950 feet. Ouch on the bad toes. Going down is almost as bad as going up, I've decided. All new meaning to the word toe jam.



I left before the sun came up this morning, as I had decided to walk a really long day today, and it is getting warm here, so getting the walk done as early as possible is the best thing.






Walking out of Acebo was great, but then the path changed to a treacherous long track. It was very hard paying attention to each step going down, and I tripped a few times. I'm always afraid of falling with my pack on. It weighs probably about 16 pounds, and I think I would go down like a brick. My 2 walking sticks, again saved me, as they have many, many times. I love those things, and they are one of my most prize possessions. I also do not have travel insurance. I decided against it, so I am super cautious. And one fall could end my camino...

This is what the track changed to. Not nice.


It then got a bit better.






Still, though, the mountains were very pretty. I passed through a medium sized town named molinaseca, and had cafe con leche, And my favorite pastry, pan chocolate. Yum. I decided at this point to call a hotel and make reservations for tonight. I needed space and a quiet room, for a change.




I passed trough the town of ponferrada, all concrete, nice town.
There is a huge knights Templar castle or church there. There were tours to be had, but I didn't go. If I return as a tourist to Spain I would like to spend a day here.


I then pushed on to the town of Cacabelos, I've got my nice room, and I'm sure I'll stroll out, but I'm all comfy and cozy here, and not ready to go out.

I've decided to try again to be more proactive on the places I am staying. I'm getting a bit tired of the albuergues, although the one yesterday was nice, and I slept well in my room of 20 people. When you stay in an albuergue, you share the shower with all of those people. i try to shower as soon as i get there. i have not had a problem getting hot water, although i hear that this problem exists. My hotel room for today was 30 euros. Probably about 40 dollars, and an albuergue is only about 5 euros for a night. Much more, although as I have said, the quiet is worth it. Staying in an albuergue is good, as you get to interact with so many people. Last night, I spent the evening with 3 women from Holland. Many people of Europe speak English, it's us from the U.S. that only speak one language. I also had a really nice chat with a young man named Chris from the U. K.

Still, privacy and a quiet room to sleep in is wonderful.

Today I again wore my tennis shoes with the air webbing. They are not as supportive as my boots, although they keep my feet dry, and that is very valuable. Downside is that I am carrying my boots.
The weather has really warmed up, so going to get rid of a couple of shirts. I have 3 t shirts and 2 long sleeved ones. Don't think I need the long sleeved ones any more. Gotta dump weight before this next mountain.

I am really having a wonderful time, and learning so much about how to take care of myself. I have become quite a confidant traveler, my Spanish has improved tremendously, and I am proud of myself. It doesn't hurt that I look like a Spaniard. People are very willing to help. Especially when you have a backpack on your back.

That's all for today, have a good week everyone!

-

Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Day 31 Rabanal to Acebo

Km traveled, 17, although 20 on my pedometer. Elevation covered today 400 meters, 1200 feet up and 300 meters down, which is much harder on the toes and knees.











Today I climbed up the mountain to the Cruz de Ferro. I prayed for the boys in my family with my steps... John- Brian-Eric-Lucas and the Jim - Frank- Bill- Chris, was my chant of the day.
There is a giant wooden pole with a cross on the top. This is the place in the movie The Way where you leave your rock or something from home and pray for something that has been bringing you sadness or depression in your life. For me, I am blessed with a wonderful life. There are things that bring me sadness though. One thing is the fact that I have some relationships in my life, that no matter how hard I have tried to maintain them, they have slipped away. This is not only with friends, but it is also with family. I am a person who calls, and tries to keep up with others, but there are many who are not like this. I am letting this go, here and now, and I need to learn to be accepting of how much people can, and are willing to give. I also need to realize that people are busy with their lives. I also need to accept the fact that people are in your life for a day, sometimes just a moment, a week, a month or a lifetime. Any amount of time spent with another person is a blessing.

I also spent time here praying for a more complete release of the disappointment and bitterness I still have about my divorce. I never have had closure from this major event in my life, and I must accept that I will probably never receive an apology, or the closure I have wanted. I must accept and completely free myself from Gene, and be completely free to accept and trust the wonderful life I have with John. The perfect life and family wasn't perfect. And I am so much better now.

I have wonderful, wonderful children, who have all married really great people, whom I love as my own children. I love those kids and grand kids so much....

It's so cool to be sitting here on top of this mountain recording these thoughts on my iPad, I am really loving this thing..

Now complaint of the day. Why do people in a communal bunk houses insist on waking up at 5 am and turning on flashlights, waking everyone else? Yikes, who gets up at 5 to start walking in the dark? Not me, I'm a 6:30 kind of gal. Since I was up, I started walking before 7, and don't want to finish my 10 miles before 11.. I also wore my tennis shoes today. Seeing how my toes do, and so far, pretty well.
I left a shell from my beach at home on the mountain, it seemed the fitting thing today.






The gravely, Stoney track of today. It was a very hard day.


I am settled in Acebo, all is well and I will sleep soundly tonight, I am sure.



Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Day 30 Murias de Rechivaldo to Rabinal del Camino

17.4 km traveled, about 9.7 miles. 250 meter, about 750 foot climb.
Tomorrow... 350 meter climb.
Today I walked pretty quickly, leaving at 7 am and getting to my albuergue at around 11:30. Not bad, if I do say so myself!
Though countryside was flat starting out, and was so pretty.




There are lots of rocks along the trail, and I often come to arrows, or hearts decorating the road..




In a little town called El Ganso, there is a cowboy bar, kinda funny, although here in Spain, they are called caballeros.
Here is the cowboy bar




The trail the went uphill, but was still very pretty.
I ran into a couple of old friends
Jeff from San Francisco, he's actually coming home the same day as me, and on the same flight from Madrid to Miami




And Minor from Japan who I've bumped into again and again. He's staying at my albuergue tonight.




Here are some pics of the albuergue today.




Those racks are for drying clothes, and will be filled by mid afternoon..with people's washing.




When I spoke to andrea yesterday, she suggested that I dedicate my 2 upcoming mountain climbs to people that I love. So today's and tomorrow climbs are dedicated to the important men in my life. John, Brian, Eric, Lucas and my brothers Jim, Frank, Bill, and Chris. I prayed for all of them on the way up, and will continue to pray for you tomorrow.
My feet are bad again. I lost my big right toenail yesterday, I've been expecting that for about a week. And I have blisters on 2 of my toes...
Spoiler alert
Pictures of my bad looking feet, coming up.








Sorry but i need sympathy, and since most of our feet look similar, there is no getting sympathy from fellow pilgrims. i also have blisters on both feet on the outsides of my heels. Ive been dealing with bad feet from the beginning so i am used to it. i keep them as clean and dry as possible. i also have dressings and duct tape I apply each morning.
Although my feet are bad, my knees feel good today, probably because I went a bit shorter today. My goal of the day is to really look at my pack and see what I can get rid of. No problems with my back though, although I suspect my pack is at about 16 pounds.
That's all for today, I want to thank you all for your continued comments and support. Each comment makes me feel so good inside.
My love from Spain,
Joni
Posted using BlogPress from my iPad