Day #24. 10/3/13. Turn of Events

Dear Family & Friends,

Yesterday while walking to the "Iron Cross" I twisted my ankle in a rocky hilly area of the path. I believe that it is a bad sprain. We stopped and stayed in a hotel last night and I wrapped it with an ace wrap and elevated my leg, but it has continued to swell. (There was no ice available).  Long story short, I cannot walk on my ankle right now. 

I called Jade's taxi service and asked them if I wore the pack and sat quietly and didn't talk could I please go with her in the back of the van.  "No, Señora!"

So, we are ending our Camino today with  plans to return next year and finish the camino to Santiago. 

We have been on the camino since september 10th. We have walked 170 miles in the rain, cold, heat and perfect weather. It has been an awesome trip of a lifetime.  

We are making plans to go home right now. Sam is an awesome travel agent, as well as navigator, so he is working out the planes, trains and automobiles to get us back to the good old USA. I told Sam he can go on without me but he wants to wait and go together next year. Ahhhhhh. 

Hey, since we have had to contact civilization today, we hear for the first time that the national government has shut down services!  Pilgrims don't watch TV so we've  not seen any news. We didn't miss it either. 

I will probable post one more blog from the airport before I sign off. Thanks again for all your support and encouragement. Your energy put giddy-up in my gallop. 

Jade got a seat on the train back to Madrid.  

Day #23 La Cruz de Ferro

There is always a rainbow after a storm. This is the view from our hostel in Foncebadon   

Mary by the cross on the right. 

This simple iron cross sits on top of a plain pole and marks the highest elevation on the Camino at 4934 feet.  As per tradition, Pilgrims bring stones or some meaningful item from home to leave at the foot of the cross.  Pilgrims believe that sins will be forgiven here and blessings will be bestowed if you stop here and reflect on your life. 

I brought Gary's ashes and spread them at the base of the cross. Then I sat down and had a good cry. 

Sunrise today

 

View from the Iron Cross

The Camino 

Sam by the cross 

Private hostel "convento" in Foncebadon where we stayed. Dormitory got a Force Rating of 0.5. 

Day 22 - October 1 - Our Big Climb

Today was a tough day on the Camino.  We knew it would be challenging since we were scheduled to walk 8 miles while climbing 1500 ft in elevation.  What we were not expecting was the worst weather we have had so far.  It was steadily raining or drizzling almost all of the 4.5 hrs we were on the trail today to reach the mountain village of Foncebadon.  

Conditions were sloppy but our spirits were high!  Mary handled it all like a real trooper.  We arrived at noon and since our hostel was not open yet headed to the bar for a Bailey's (Mary) and a cerveza (Sam).

This is the only picture from today because it was raining too hard. 

Yesterday:  there were only two places to eat in our village. We had drinks at this cowboy bar but lunch and dinner at the other restaurant that was 10 feet away. The population of this village was <50 people. 

 Spanish foosball players have their arms out. 

Last night we had a pilgrim dinner with 2 German brothers (Dominic & David-in their 20s) and a British 70 year old lady named Margaret.  Margaret was traveling by herself and started the Camino in Leon. Dom and David started in St Jean, France just like we did except they drove there from Germany. They have walked the entire way without buses or train rides.  

When we are at dinner with Pilgrims, the conversation naturally turns to "why are you walking the Camino?"  The boys said they had finished their masters (education) and bachelor degrees (architect) and were taking a break before getting a job.  They feel the Camino is a good place for reflection and making life decisions. Margaret lost her husband 3 years ago and has wanted to do this Camino for the past 2 years. She knows people in England who have done it.  She couldn't find anybody to walk with her so she decided to go alone. Her six children were very upset that she was going solo. I give her a lot of credit for being 70 years old and walking to Santiago from Leon alone.  You go, girl!

It is a common theme to hear pilgrims say, "I couldn't stop thinking about the Camino. I had to do it!"  That explains how Sam & I have felt over the last 18 months. Last night We all discussed having felt a calling to walk the Camino.   Before this trip, Sam & I found a great deal of meaning in this quote:

"Before a new chapter is begun, the old one has to be finished. Stop being who you were, and change into who you are. "       

         Paulo Coelho

Adios.