IT WAS HARD?

(that is a castle on a hill, it looked like it was floating in the sky) 

Today's post will probably mainly focus on the physical journey, but first, last night's albergue was awesome! Stream in the backyard, lots of positive vibes type place, very energetic host, full vegetarian meal that resolved any constipation issues that may or may not have started since Cruz de Ferro, and generally good company.

Yeah, then this morning came.

SPOILER ALERT: The ascent sucked!

Started out very early walking in the darkness towards the base of the climb (mind you, we were still going uphill the entire way). Stopped at a ridiculously overpriced albergue/bar (think 8€ wash and 8€ dry, last night was 3€ wash as was tonight with 4€ dry). Had an OJ for the climb, destroyed the baños, and started the ascent...

I'm not sure if I said this before, but it sucked! Drizzly, foggy, cold air pockets, hot air pockets, breeze, gusts, no sun, only gray to white. You would think on my second go-round they could bring out some sun so I could actually see the result of all that suffering in the climb — But NOOOOOOO, that was on order for tomorrow instead.

I started my climb around 8:15 and arrived around 11:15 (I stopped for a KAS Limón at the first stop and a second breakfast at the second stop) — Interesting story, Team Texas! never had one so I bought one at the bar across the street from our albergue and brought it over. They asked what it was, I said a gift from the Gods for pilgrims (they have heard my sales pitch before). When they tried it their response was I was UNDERSELLING it! Not sure how that is possible, but there it is — Anyways, back to the climb(s). I stopped at the church, got my sello stamp, lit a candle, said a prayer and struck off to finish the 2nd half of my day, walking the ridge. Oh it was FUN (NO, NO IT WAS NOT!). See, reaching O'Cebreiro is not the end of the climbs, that was a short 2km from my albergue. So for 10km it was more up, bit subtle down, UP, little level, UUUPPP, and finally BRACE FOR DESCENT. I'm stopped in a little hamlet with more cows than people, but they make a delicious cheese that is sold in the albergue bar. Oh, and the albergue is NOT FULL!!!

Oh, I almost forgot to mention, officially crossed into Galicia just before O'Cebreiro!

Tomorrow morning — DESCENT! And off to the Samos monastery after.

Now, community meal soon:

Galician soup

Some beef fillet with rice

Some dessert

Water and wine.

I GUARANTEE, with my level of exhaustion, there will be power snoring tonight, and I guarantee I won't be the only one (nappers already power snoring, at least until the two kids went walking through talking at the top of their lungs).