Day 28

Day 28 – Foncebadon to Ponferrada
27k – 587k to date

It was a beautiful day to be walking in the Cantabrian mountains of Spain today. As I left last night’s resting place, I looked back and saw the sun just coming up and a cross placed in the middle of the rocky road, it was a nice way to start. After a short climb, I reached Cruz Ferro, an iconic spot on the Camino. It is a tall pole with a cross on the top and a small chapel to the side. It is iconic because pilgrims are supposed to bring a rock or memento from home and leave it there. With the leaving of the rock, you are supposed to let the rock or memento keep your burdens that you want to leave on the Camino and not take or have when you get back home.

I honestly thought I would see this mound of stones and mementos as a Grisswald tourist moment, but honestly, as you see it get larger as you walk up to it, it is a very moving place. I believe it is a special place because thousands, if not millions of pilgrims have stopped in that spot and at the minimum taken time to consider things that burden their life down. It doesn’t matter your faith, it is a place to just stop and consider your life and the weights that are attached to that life. I did not bring a stone from home, but I did bring something of significance to my life and I did leave it close to the top of that ever growing mound. I didn’t leave it there to leave my burdens behind, but I left it there to help remind me to keep my priorities in life in constant order. Those should always be God first, family second and your “life” third.

The rest of the day was a trek down to the valley floor and the large city of Ponferrada. Upon entering town, I was amazed to see a large castle. It is a 13th century Templar castle and is preserved in very good shape. I noticed there were even parts of the castle with current windows, so I assume some offices are built in there. The castle is supposed to hold all kinds of secret Templar symbols. There was also a large, but not overly ornate Catholic Church across the square.

Life just keeps happening one day at time!

Psalm 55:22

continue to day 29