Day 20

Map for Days 14 - 20

Day 14  - Carrion de los Condes to Sahagun

Day 15 - Sahagún to Reliegosd

Day 16 - Reliegos to Leon

Day 17 - Rest day in Leon

Day 18 - Leon to Villavante

Day 19 - Villavante to Murias de Rechivaldo

Day 20 - Murias de Rechivaldo to El Acebo

In the mountains now. Ponferrada in the distance, 3,000 ft down.

Today we went up the mountain with about 1,700 ft elevation gain.  At the top is the Iron Cross at 4,500 ft. It is the highest point on the Camino.  Snow on the mountain tops in all directions.  At the base of the Iron Cross is a pile of rocks left by pilgrims.  The rocks are supposed to be brought from their homeland.  Leaving one there absolves the pilgrim’s sins.  We forgot our rock from Sun Prairie, so we had to borrow Spanish rocks.

Iron Cross at summit.

We originally planned to stay the night at a village on the mountain, but the forecast called for scattered thunderstorms tomorrow, so we pushed on a bit for another 8 mi. and came down 1,500 ft in elevation.  Along the way we passed the smallest village in Spain - 1 driveway (no electricity or plumbing, but an authentic latrine). Sue said we could no stay there tonight.

Smallest village in Spain. No plumbing.

The terrain both up and down

The path was really rocky and pretty treacherous both going up and down.  At one point Sue caught her boot on a rock.  I saw her go down, first one leg and then the other onto the rocks.  I thought that was it.  Broken leg.  We were 1 mi from the guy with no plumbing, and 3 mi from the next town with no one else on the trail. But, she recovered. One bloody knee  and a big welt on the other leg, but nothing broken.  We hobbled into the next town about 2 hrs later.

Looking east from where we came.

Snow out there.

Mountaintop town of Foncebadon.

Crosses made of sticks in fence. Went on for 2 km.

Sue with Charlemagne and falcon.

Famous cowboy bar.

Home for the night.

Blister maintenance.