Day 33

A lovely peaceful walk this morning, the Way is flat with a gentle incline. Only a short walk, I get a bed at the Alburgue I really wanted to stay at. It is run by the Confraternity of St James an English organisation, there are 3 lovely volunteers.

I know my friend Les from the Blue Mountains Camino group is going to pass through this town at some point today, he is walking with 3 mates from the US, we make contact and I run out to meet him as he comes through the town, I am swept away with emotion, it’s like going to meet someone at the airport. It’s a very quick hello, I walked to the end of down and then he is gone. It was so wonderful to see someone from home.

There is a tradition of tea and biscuits at 4:30pm each day for pilgrims at this Alburgue, today they bake us a cake as a special treat, they ask someone to play Mum so I volunteer and pour the tea for all the pilgrims. It’s a great place and they have a fire in the lounge for us to sit and relax around.

At 7pm there is Vespers at the church next door there are 3 Monks, the church is full, the singing is all in Latin, it’s lovely. The church is ancient, very simple and peaceful.

I have dinner with an Australian pilgrim I have not seen for a while, it’s great to check in and see how we are each doing. I have an amazing mushroom risotto then peppers stuffed with cod, the dessert is a lemon mousse it’s as light as air, yum!

Distance walked 7km

Elevation 1150m

Very quiet on the Way today with only a few Pilgrims to say Hola too. But the Alburgue is almost full.

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Day 34

Today is really special I am going over a mountain, Cruz de Ferro. It’s the highest point on the Camino and the place we are to leave our burdens.

As I leave the Alburgue, I see the sun hitting the church steeple and turn back around to take a photo. Suddenly I hear “Sharise” and there is my friend from the US I have not seen for 12 days when we walked up a steep hill after Castrojeriz, we had not shared our details, amazing. We get to support one another again on our climb. We both walk at the same speed “Slow”! It’s a tough walk and I am so grateful we found each other again.

As we approach Cruz de Ferro I feel an absolutely welling up of emotions, this is a significant moment about to happen.

We get to the base of the cross where we are to lay our stone there is lots of chatter as we climb to the top and place our burdens and take a moment to reflect and take in the other burdens left behind many with messages of loss, grief and love every emotion all significant to the pilgrim who has left them. Suddenly a tour bus turns up and an entire Spanish Seniors club descended upon us and it’s time to move, we have a big climb down.

A guy from the US joins us as we start our descent, this is his 5th Camino it’s great to have him along with us, Dad jokes and all.

The climb down is longer and harder than I ever imagined we don’t get into the town until nearly 3pm I am worried I won’t get a bed.

The place my friend is staying at had a sign out “beds available” so here I am. We have had showers, food, beer and a rest a few of us are all going down to the bar for more food and more drinks to ease the pain.

With my burdens now gone I feel, relieved and happy that we all made it down in one piece to tell the tale and of course to walk again tomorrow.

Distance walked 16.5km

Elevation 1500m

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