It is well, It is well with my soul.

We left at 6 am this morning wanting to be at Cruz de Ferro at daybreak. It was only about 1-1/2 miles from albergue to the cross. As we were walking I was hyper focused on how I would respond when all of a sudden it was right in front of me. I walked up the hill of rocks to the cross then went to a concrete area next to it and sat. The more I looked at the cross and thought of Rodney, the more distraught I became and began weeping uncontrollably. After a short while I felt a hand on my shoulder. It stayed there and finally I looked up at a woman sitting next to me giving me comfort. I looked at her and she nodded her feelings and concern and stayed until I regained some composure. No words were spoken. After while she came back to where I was sitting and asked what language I spoke. After answering her she spoke some words of comfort and left. Thank you God for sending your angel. I took my Rodney rock up and placed it on the pile as well as my grandchildren rock that they signed. I took a third rock up to the foot of the cross. This third rock was for our friend Julia who is walking her own tougher camino than I am walking.

So simple and so very powerful

I watched Father Rick sitting some distance away also take three rocks up. One for his brother who died last fall, one for his mother who has died and a third for remembering friends. I asked him about this and I recognized that he was very choked up over the experience.

Father Rick placing his rocks

We only walked about 12 miles today but it was grueling up and down steep terrain.

We are out of the meseta and now in the mountains . I’d much rather be in the meseta
This was typical of our paths with much of it even worse

Last evening we had supper with Holly, Renee, and two crazy Spaniards from Canary Islands. One Spaniard spoke English. It was a really fun filled evening.

Paella with some chorizo and ham
Instead of cheese the Spaniards had us say Amor

We have now walked 349 miles. In ten days we arrive in Santiago. Rick had been having some trouble booking a couple of towns but this afternoon something happened and some places opened and we are now fully booked to Santiago.

I’ll give you an update on my foot. The little toe is good again after using vasoline on it daily. The side of my foot south of the big toe where it bumps out feels good but had the big blister reappear today. The good news is I was pretty pain free today.

Here’s some bonus pictures from today:

There are several peregrinos with dogs
An early view of things(mountains) to come


I fully expect you are getting tired of village pictures, but I’m not and it’s my blog
Crazy Spaniard meets crazy Americanovideo


I’m going to end today the way I started, It is well, it is well with my soul.