After posting last night Barb and Robert came over to my hotel bar and we had a few pre-church drinks. At 7pm we hustled over to the church and snuck in the back. We were close to the last ones in. The service was in Latin sung in Gregorian chant. It was very interesting and worth hearing and the church was small and old with a lot of character.
Afterward Robert and I went back to my hotel and had a very nice meal. Barb had a prepaid meal at her hotel. The problem with having everything prearranged is dinner at a different restaurant is not allowed. We had been talking about her next stop and it was not at a great town or location and left a long tricky decent. Robert and I were going to the town at the bottom of the descent which I had months ago marked as a must stay town. Barb thought it might make more sense to descend all the way with companions and would make that call at her stop.
The forcast for today was bad. Rain, rain, rain and a big mountain to climb and come down from.
The three of us met at the bar in my hotel at the end of town for coffee and started out in a blustery dark morning about 8am. We needed the lights for a while as we began to climb. Robert went on ahead and Barb and I talked quite a lot all day. We would catch Robert at the next cafe and head out together but he wanted to walk. My pace was steady but didn't want to go Robert's. Barb could keep mine so it was good to have company.
Near the top of the climb was the well know Iron Cross where you are suppose to leave a stone brought from home meant to represent some burden you carry. I had a stone from my backyard and as I thought about it I think it represented my concern for my sons. I can't do life for them and all I can do is give them the tools to make a happy life and support them in whatever they do.
The weather at the top of the mountain was sunny, rainy, sunny and rainy but always very windy. I was getting blown around and tiny Barb neary flew away. The rain we got was not too bad and most of the day it dried quickly and the path was not too wet. Our shoes stayed dry.
Soon enough we began the descent which is known as one of the scariest of the Camino. Barb and I picked our way though the first third and soon we were at the town she was supposed to stay. She had to make a decision: burn her hotel stay and book something else and come with us or stay in a very small town and face two thirds of the descent by herself tomorrow. We had a very nice menu del dia as she decided. The weather forecast looked much worse tomorrow and she had companions today so to booked in our town and we headed out. The weather held and we made the 8km descent without incident and even some sun.
The town of Molinaseca is a gem. This is one cute town. In the distance we can see Ponferrada and it looks big and with a lot of industrial area in and out of it. Tomorrow may not be such a great walk.
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