Day 20 Murias de Rech to El Acebo

Day 20 Murias de Rechivaldo to El Acebo 32 km

I cannot believe it is day 20.
Today is a tough one - 32 km, and the terrain is very hilly. This stage is nicknamed ‘The Climb’.

It lived up to its name. On numerous occasions, tracks were extremely narrow and steep, rendering it virtually impracticable to pass a fellow pilgrim. At one point, there was a queue to start a climb.

The weather was on my side today. It was sunny, not too warm, and the path was dry under my feet.

The small villages were delightful, resembling ski resorts. All the houses were built from natural stone with thick walls and tiny windows.
Winter here is brutal, with cold, harsh winds and lots of snow.

As I continued my climb, I noticed that I was above the tree line. The scenery was spectacular, compared to ‘the meseta’ of the last 8 days.

Eventually, I reached the highest point, above sea level, of the whole Camino.
Traditionally, a stone is left by pilgrims at the base of the famous 'Croix de Fer.' It signifies that they have left behind ‘their problem’.

I passed a Camino km sign and the distance began with a 2. Brilliant

I reach my destination and felt exhausted but satisfied.

Tomorrow is going to be tougher. The first day of climbing up and over a mountain covering 24 km. It should be my last and toughest physical challenge of the journey.Read more