We reluctantly left our 5 star accommodations to brave the cold, windy overcast day. It didn’t take long for it to start raining, then to start snowing, then to start sleeting (first time Lizzie saw snow)! The sun would come out to tease us then the process would start all over again!! We met up with a father, son, and nephew team. They walked with us for about 2 1/2 miles. Liz and I stopped for a grande cafe leche while they went on. We walked 12.9 miles today with several steep ascents and one steep decent covering 600 meters. After our disaster at the Albergue last night, I had Liz make us reservations at an Albergue in Triacastela. It’s run by Manuel who carried our packs up the stairs to our room!! He even gave Liz a concoction to rub on her aching muscles. We went to Mass at Iglesias Santiago. If you look closely at the picture zoomed in on the church tower, you will see the three castles which the town is named for. It’s hard to believe that we have been walking for 8 days and only have 6 more to go. To be honest, after the second day I wasn’t sure if I would be able to make it. Now I’m not wanting it to end. At dinner tonight we met new friends and saw friends with met the first night in Leon! Keep us in your prayers as you are in mine.

Started out with cloudy skies and low 30’s. It quickly started to rain, then began to snow (2nd picture), then began to sleet, sun came out then began to sleet again!!

There were 12 of us at dinner last night along with the two hosts. Suzie the owner is from Australia and after making 10 Camino’s decided to sell her flower shop in Australia and open an Albergue!! The dinner consisted of a lettuce, onion, nutmeg soup, and rice with a vegetable sauce and homemade ice cream with strawberries for desert. It was delicious!! Best thing was everything was grown in her garden. She began the evening by having each one of us say something about ourselves. We ended the meal with singing and all were amazed at Lizzie’s voice! We really hated to leave there this morning.

We walked 11.2 miles, the last part very steep, but again the vistas were breathtaking. Weather was overcast but thankfully didn’t start raining until we made it to our destination. We have been staying in albergues all along and so went to the only one here. After paying for our beds we went down stairs to our assigned room. It consisted of 30 beds squeezed into it with male/female mixed in. The breaking point was the showers without any kind of covering. (At least they were assigned male and female). I looked at Liz and as she looked back at me, I told her to pack up and we would splurge and stay at a hostel. We have our own room and bathroom with a tub!! We feel like we are in heaven. The weather has turned cold, rainy and very windy, but we are very snug. We are heading down to the restaurant for a bowl of caldo galicia. Keep us in your prayers as you are in mine.

This is our communal meal at our Albergue Casa Susi last night. picture of our walk from Trabadelo to O’Cebreiro going up 700 meters the last 6.2km

We began our day walking through beautiful vineyards and as I watched the owner trimming the vines I was reminded of many bible stories of how God molds our lives if we just let him. We also passed bing cherry trees and possibly a cranberry tree that we were able to pick the fruit and eat.

It’s amazing how God has put people in our path as we have needed help. Yesterday in Ponferrada we had detoured off the way to see some sights and were having difficulty finding the way back. This local gentleman walked up to us and offered to escort us. He spoke Spanish and German and conversed with Liz. She said it was difficult as he kept switching between Spanish and German. She did learn that he was 86, lived there most of his life and we even passed by his grandchildren. Then today the alternate path was not as well marked and as we were coming down we were looking for a path off the road to the right. We came to one and decided to take it. Just as we started down it a car passed by, stopped and called out to us that it was the wrong way. Our path was another 300 meters down. God is good!! Keep us in your prayers as you are in mine.

Liz and I took the path up through the mountains instead of the regular path along the road. It reminded me of Stephanie’s and my trip along the Appalachian trail. The pictures shows the village were we ate lunch in the background.

After a nice breakfast we left our singing buddies and headed out. With time and prayers our bodies are starting to heal though we still have to drain the occasional blister! Today was overcast, which kept us cool and we even saw a rainbow. After leaving Ponferrada it began to lightly rain on us. Lizzie’s kind of weather. We met back up with our friends at the Albergue in Camponaraya. Planning on taking an alternate path tomorrow that will take us up into the mountains instead of the busy highway. It will be over 15 miles so we are sending our backpacks on head to the next Albergue. Keep us in your prayers as you are in mine.

l love the waymarkers along this section of the Way. Normally it’s a yellow arrow or a scallop shell.