Looking at today’s stage in the guide book was enough for me to know that I had better get moving early.
Took off in the dark at 5.45 and headed onto a narrow path which led up the mountain. It didn’t seem to take too long before we found ourselves above the clouds.

Even though the walk was quite steep and kept going up and up, I did love it, especially watching the sun come up over the mountains.
The high point of Cruz de Ferro soon  came up. At 1504 m above sea level, this is the high point of the entire Camino de Santiago
It’s become an iconic part of the Camino, as pilgrims pause and reflect and in many cases add a stone or token from home to the pile there already.
I was prepared for this and happy to stop awhile and reflect on my  experiences on the pilgrimmage and also on the ups and downs of my life over the past few years.
I did even congratulate myself on being a survivor and not giving up, when at times I felt like doing just that.
However, what did surprise me was to see the cross and surrounds looking like a junk heap. I felt ashamed of my fellow pilgrims who had dumped junk from home in the name of a blessing.

I know this won’t be a popular view, but it’s my opinion. I purposely did not have a stone or token to leave, but I am carrrying my family and loved ones in my heart. I don’t need trinkets to remember them. I did take a moment to give thanks for my good fortune and for the good health of my family

The second half of the day was a  very very steep descent over mostly wet rocks on very narrow tracks. As the day wore on, the tracks became almost impossibly steep

Finally made it into the beautiful village of Molinaseca. The knees were letting me know loud and clear that they had done enough work for one day.
It was then time for a treat for hard work done. Knees raring to go again after a half hour sit.