Pilgrims Log 11

7/10

After leaving Astorga, the landscape changed almost instantly - and very drastically as well. I’m no longer in the Meseta; the flat terrain has given way to seemingly endless uphill and downhill sections and for the first time in what feels like weeks I’m walking in the shade of a forest. There are cherry trees everywhere with bright red cherries. I love to pick a handful when I see them and enjoy a Camino snack. The Camino provides. 

I’ve decided to slow down and arrive to Santiago around the 23rd of July - almost two weeks. That’s a remarkably slow pace for the amount of walking I have left but I want my arrival to coincide with St. James Day (7/25) as it’s the biggest holiday in Santiago de Compostela.

Tomorrow I will leave behind the rocks I’ve been carrying since the beginning of the journey at the Cruz de Ferro - a symbolic gesture to signify leaving your burdens behind. In 3 days or so, I’ll have the second hardest day of the Camino: the 3,000’ (or even a little more) ascent from Villafranca del Bierzo into O Cebreiro. 

I’m looking forward to sitting on the beach and doing nothing for a few days, but I still have more walking yet until I’m there. As far as the entire journey goes I’m about 2/3 of the way to the end.

Buen Camino