Saturday we hiked up to Cruz de Ferro. As we mentioned earlier it is a monument were pilgrims have been leaving a stone (their burdens) for over a thousand years. Each of us had carried a stone from home and placed it on the mountain of rocks. This day was a milestone in our journey. We spent about 30 minutes there praying for our families and friends, reflecting on our
lives and blessings that surround us and certainly crying. We hugged and cried some more. It’s amazing how something so simple, but symbolic can be so healing.

Sunday was also a big day for us, but full of fun! We stayed in Ponferrada which is an old medieval city of 62,000 people with modern sprawl on the outside of the town. We toured the Castillo de los Templarios which is a 12th century Castle of the Knights Templar. The Templars protected the pilgrims on their journey to Santiago. Not only is the castle well preserved, but it also houses ancient religious texts. Some dating to the year 800. Amazing!





It was also Deb’s birthday, so Linda and Loretta treated her to dinner and staying in a hotel! Such a luxury and how special to celebrate her birthday in Spain, on the Camino with her good friends!
We are currently in Laguna de Castilla. Not a very long day as far as mileage goes (13.5 miles), but the terrain and incline were unbelievable! We hiked 5 miles up a dry creek bed full of rocks, shale slabs and sometimes through creeks and mud. Thankfully part of the path was shaded, but other times the sun until beat down on us and it was almost unbearable.


As we hiked through small villages today we were greeted by the locals with, “Bueno Camino!” And one elderly gentleman, out for his morning walk, stopped us in Valcarce greeted us with a smile and shook our hands and told us that he hoped we liked his country and then sent us off with a kiss. What a way to start the day…blessed everyday of our journey💕