Not my favorite surface to walk on

Vicki doing the first reading at the pilgrim mass at O Cebreiro

Today was definitely another mountain climbing day for us! We walked over 13 miles and 238 flights of stairs! The first half of our walk was a gentle uphill climb alongside the river, and through wooded pathways.

In Vega de Valvarce, we had to pause for a farmer and his cattle to cross the road to another pasture. Livestock crossing the path is a regular occurrence on the Camino. If you don’t see them cross, you will see plenty of evidence that they did earlier!!

Shortly after the village we passed near a very high bridge under construction.

After Las Herrerias the climb was very arduous. It felt like it was straight uphill! The views were amazing though! Every time we turned around to see the view, we had to stop a moment to appreciate it.

We crossed into the province of Galicia today. We are staying in the town of O Cebreiro. In the 1970’s, the parish priest of this village was instrumental in reviving the Camino. He published a guide in 1971 for pilgrims, and then in 1982 he marked the entire Camino Frances with the very familiar yellow arrows that provide pilgrims with directions. He scrounged the yellow paint off the various local authority’s road maintenance departments.

We attended a Pilgrims Mass tonight at the Church of Santa Maria. It was special for me, as I got to be the English speaking Lector for the first reading.

Looking at the elevation profile for tomorrow, we hope will be a bit easier.