Rabanal to Acebo via the Iron Cross

We are now at Acebo, a small village half way down the mountain to Ponferrada. We walked 17kms which sounds easy, but it has been the hardest so far, for me anyway! …just aching lower back, and amazingly I am just back from a massage!! Not usually my thing, but I needed it and feel good…am also going to take some anti inflammatories just to be sure! Apart from that annoyance, it was a lovely day…very cold again, making hands ache. We were dropped back to Rabanal by our lovely host, Javier, met Sandee and set off at about 9.

We knew we had to ascend to the highest point, 1505 metres, where the Iron Cross is, and the stones. It was quite a moment…Cathy and I each took a stone, with Amr’s name written by Sonny and Jaxon…we found a good place to leave them - high up, in the centre of things, which is what he liked! There are photos, and you will see.

After that we started the long trek - it had felt a long way getting to the high point, but the rest of the walk down to Acebo did seem LONG…because it was difficult walking..loose uneven stones, slanting slate, and then the long descent…but we are here, in a very modern albergue which has private rooms. Our room is built out of hollowed rock, or that’s what it looks like…certainly the wifi doesn’t come in…but will get it in the bar where we are heading soon!! Amr and I were sort of here 2 years ago, we ate here but our room was up in the village. There wasn’t much sign of the bushfires a few weeks ago…just a little scorched patches amongst the heather on distant hills. And we see Ponferrada set out below us, our destination tomorrow. Sandee is staying somewhere else, but is joining us for dinner here at 8.30. She has become a Camino family member! Cathy will add the dinner story, and any more comments of the day, and the photos…
Cathy’s comments:
Not too much more to add. It’s been a physically and mentally challenging day. Mum was amazing and I remind her it’s ok whatever way we do the Camino as she’s continually conquering it.
A communal dinner and a fun evening.Read more