Ponferrada

Much has happened since my last post.  I am now in Ponferrada which has a great significance for the Knights Templar from the eleventh century.

I have toured the castle and it is quite remarkable

Since my last post I have been in Astorga, then on to Foncebadon and now into Ponferrada.

The landscape has changed yet again. Coming out of Astorga it was still. Little flat, As I moved closer the the hills it changed and the last six kilometres to Fomcebadon were straight up to just below 1500 meters.  

One of the highlights of the Camino experience is the Cruz de Ferro. This is an old iron cross sitting at the 1500 meter level at the top of a hill.  The theory is that at the cross you leave either remembrances or you leave habits or issues that you want to get rid of.  The issues are as varied as he people who do the camino, many thoughts and ideas have been snared with me by my camino friends, they are however personal to each of them and do not need to be shared here, I appreciate that some of these feelings were shared with me and that is where they will stay.  As one friend pointed out, on the Camino you tend to share more information with some of the folks that you meet than you would with friends at home  however you often spend much more time with some of these folks than you do with people at home, it is am interesting  and very unique experience.

For me at the Cruz de Ferro this morning I left a number of rocks,  I left one for my parents who really helped to shape the basics of who I am. My mother always used to say that we needed to take time to stop and smell the roses, I think that with my Camino journey  I have finally started to truly understand about what living in the moment is all about and her advice is finally gelling for me.

I also left a rock for my family, my wife. who has been my best friend and partner for over 40 years, my three amazing kids, all of whom have also made me who I am, and my six little people who will bring so much  joy In the years to come.

My third rock was for all of the relatives and friends who have departed this earth, there are many and they have each, in some way helped to contribute to my own growth.  This year in particular I Remembered my friend Rollie who always had a twinkle in his eye and who taught me more about wine than anyone else,  my Uncle Bob,  a very devout man who  I was able to share my plans for this Camino journey in the month before he passed away.

The fourth rock was for me and some things that I hope to change, they are personal and need not be discussed here.    suffice to say my journey down the mountain from the Cruz de Ferro left me feeling much lighter and more positive than I have felt for some time, this is an interesting and enlightening journey.

Until next time

Gaudialace in Astorga, the view from my room

We are back into the hills, Astorga far below

Pilgrim at the Cruz de Ferro in the early morning light

Cruz de Ferro

Templar  Castle in Pomferrada