Cacabelos to Trabadelo

Pilgrim Statue La Portela de Valcarce...outside of Trabadelo

photo courtesy of http://www.ourcamino.com/
Written on June 17, 2009.....11.7 miles.
Last night we had dinner with Lisa and Mariela, (not sure of spelling). Mariela is on a bicycle from Logrono to Santiago. She has already faced challenge and circumstance on the Camino that shows her courage and conviction.
We had a great sleep. At 5:30 a.m. this morning the resident storks that live on the Albergue church started their beak noises that can be very loud. A natural wake up call!
Vern and I left and started walking at 6 a.m.. It was a beautiful walk through vineyards and villages. As we entered Villafranca del Bierz we saw Mariela as she was passing us on her bike.
While taking a break at a sidewalk cafe in Villafranca an awareness came to me: sometimes when I was working I would visualize Vern and I sitting at a sidewalk cafe in a small village somewhere in the world. Here we were in the present time fulfilling that vision not only together but with the support and love of others.

As we were having our coffee Lisa was entering the plaza. Each person on the Camino plays a vital part just as in life. Lisa is a strong presence and unconditionally gives of her time and talents.

Many people in the plaza were discussing which one of the paths they would take today from Villafranca del Bierzo to Trabadelo. Our book recommended the path over the mountain. When we arrived at the place to make our decision: up the mountain, or through the valley next to the highway I was ¨pulled¨to take the path over the mountain.

As we walked up the mountain the views from there were incredible: wide valleys, mountain-top ruins, mountain range after mountain range, (we counted nine in a row), and Villafranca. We truly were in the wilderness in Spain.

After three hours of walking up the mountain it was getting hotter and hotter. I became concerned about myself when I realized I was sucking on the top of my walking stick to get water. I immediately drank some water and electrolyte supplement and ate some hard candy.

All through the mountain Vern was seeing beautiful green lizards, he thinks they were chameleons.

Once we climbed to the summit the trail started winding through hilltop orchards and down into the village. We walked directly to the municipal albergue and picked out our beds. We walked through the village and found the albergue that Lisa is staying in.

We had a great dinner in a restaurant near Lisa´s albergue.

As we were leaving the restaurant Lisa was talking about having breakfast early in the morning. The owner heard her and told her that he opened at 6:30 a.m. Lisa said that she wanted to leave earlier than that. He said good, I will open at 6:00 a.m.! Wow, that´s service!