Cold Rain - CDS Primitivo to A Fonsagrada

Oh they warned us at the cafe. “It’s going to rain! It’s cold! It’s windy! It might snow! I wouldn’t go if I were you...”

But what is a pilgrim to do? We didn’t have many options on a holiday weekend Sunday, but to walk on. There isn’t any buses today. There were no cabs. We could’ve maybe holed up in the town we were in, but that required some long wait times, and just wasn’t viable. Besides, we’re pilgrims. We walk on. It’s what we do. We thanked them for their good sense, and walked out into coldest of December rains.

“Fools,” they probably said.

“We are fools,” we said, ten minutes later.

Our feet were soaked within the first two miles. My core was warm, but from the knees down, I was wet and cold. My gloves helped for awhile, but eventually they were sodden and not much help either.

It became a matter of enduring it. We could do it, it just wouldn’t be pleasant.

After we climbed the giant hill, the wind found us and things got that much harder. We were mostly wet, and the wind sliced through us. Then, it began to snow.

I laughed. Everything the locals predicted came true. Almost as if they’ve seen December storms around these parts many times.

It was bad, but as long as we kept moving, we were fine. God help us if we rolled an ankle or something. That woukd have been brutal.

Taking a break in a cold church entry way.

I like the mood of this scene.

Somewhere up there we left Asturias behind, and entered Galacia.

Perhaps the darkest forest I’ve ever seen.

I saw a dozen big shaggy manes today.

Anyone else see a couple of skinny dudes holding up the power cables?

And after a long, long time, we saw it: The finest Galacian steakhouse I’ve ever seen! We meekly walked in on a very busy Sunday and scored the only table available. We were ecstatic! We had croquettes, steaks and fries, a bottle of wine, a shared brownie and coffee. It was a very fine meal.

And then we had to finish the day. Home was another two miles down the trail. Drinking half a bottle of wine and eating a big meal helped dull the pain.

The sky opened up and the sun came out, if only for a little while.

This cat ran up to me and tried to tell me, “that it’s owners were gone, and it was cold out, and to please let me in.”

And finally two takes on the same scene.

We made it. We took the hottest showers you’ve ever had and laid down.

If we have it our way, we may just keep laying here until next June. But, tomorrow is another day, and we are getting closer to Santiago.