Day 10, May 5, El Ganso to Molinaseca

Day 10, Thursday, May 5, El Gonso (mile 328.1) to Molinaseca (mile 348.9). Walked 20.8 miles. AND an extra mile to retrieve Riv's dropped mitten AND about 2000 feet up and then down. AND the steep downhill with loose rocks by far the most challenging trail tread so far.  

We set off in the dark and were treated to an exceptional sunrise (photo 1) reminding us that cloudy days can be the most beautiful at dawn and dusk. 

River has been watching the weather reports with real forboding seeing a week of rain predicted and knowing the mountains an be cold as well treacherous downhill terrain that really becomes dangerous when wet and muddy. Today the rain was predicted for afternoon if at all, and River was determined that we climb to the highest point on the Camino (almost 5000 ft) and make the descent before the serious rain started. 

In addition to being the most arduous day so far, it was also the most beautiful. Photo 2 shows the trail side shrubs in bloom -- Chris calls them pink, River calls them purple. 

Photos 2 and 3 show an amazing young  Brazilian man Enzo we met at our first rest stop. He is a fireman, and studying English and loves the chance to practice. I asked about his tattoos and he explained they were the gods. Not the gods of only one religion, but all the gods -- Hindu, Christian, indigenous. One was a painting by Blake. There were quotes from Dante and around his wrist words he could not quite translate that seemed to suggest "within the boundaries of any small part, the mystery of the whole is contained. "

Photos 3 and 4 show Enzo taking great pride in his very meaningful tattoos. 

We loved the snow-covered mountains on the distance ( which the iPhone cannot do justice to, but if you make then bigger, you may see the mountains). Photo 4 shows the view from near the summit, photo 5 shows white blossoms in the foreground, snow-covered mountains in the back. 

It's hard to communicate the precarious terrain,very steep trail and loose rocks. Photos 7 and 8 were best we could do. 

We stopped for a very brief rest at a stand that was a bit reminiscent of David (not free, though). River noticed the young man and woman who run it leaning into one another with very tender love and they saw her noticing and smiled. This led to their taking our photo and our taking theirs (photos 9 and 10). After we told them we were a married couple together more than 30 years, the young man said "We have history too. " He walked the Camino in 2008 and then worked as a hospitalero (volunteer) at an alburgue, and one day this beautiful young woman walked in. The rest is history. 

We made it to Molinaseca before the rain began, a challenging day but well worth it.