Day Twenty-three – Castrillo de Polvazares to Acebo

We are high in the mountains now, and it was a long, beautiful hike up! We walked 19.8 miles today.

We hit a big landmark today – Cruz de Ferro. Pilgrims traditionally bring a stone from home and leave it at the foot of the stark, iron cross. (See blog post about 30 back for further explanation) This usually symbolizes release of a burden. My very special stone was to be left in thanksgiving.

I didn’t think it would be difficult to leave – it was so closely tied to my faith.

Leaving my stone…it wasn’t hard, until about 100 yards down the path. The stone has been at my side or close by me for over 25 years! It hit me hard, and brought big tears, but they were tears of joy! It is right at the foot of that simple cross. Right where it belongs!

We walked much further than we planned today. We’re going to have a simple picnic dinner and go to bed early. All showered, in clean clothes, laundry on the line.

God is so, so good to us.