11 miles
5/15/2019
Today's stage is our shortest route but most challenging, starting off with another bucolic trek through a woodland trail with the soothing sound of the river and its waterfalls.
Puente Del Xestu Molin
Husband and wife Andreas (Germany) and Micheline (Luxemburg);
and brother Jean Piere (France).
But that stage of this route is shortly followed by a 1969 ft. climb to the summit of Puerto del Palo, the highest point of the original way, at 3760 ft. high with a stunning view of the Cantabrian Mountains, followed by an exhausting 820 ft. challenging descent.
I pretend I am checking our route notes,
when all I really wanted to do was sit down in a comfy spot
before tackling the highest peak.
When along came a British photo bomber, Matthew,
to share the shot.
My fabulous British friends: Johnny & Marcella (husband + Italian wife); Hetty and Matthew (Johnny's sister + her husband).
I believe it was Hetty & Matthew's 4th Camino.
Views of Eric beginning the nastiest (and seemingly endless descent) from the top.
The only mantra I kept repeating to myself while dealing
with these rocks was, "focus - remember what happened when you broke your ankle on this stuff in Iceland."
(just ask George and Kaye Shriver).
Toward the end of the trail, there were pine forests that sheltered us from the brutal sun while generating a wonderful, fresh smell. It was such a relief to be walking on pine straw after all those rocks, gravel and stone.
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