Rabanal del Camino to Molinaseca

It felt really great to walk again today. While I really enjoyed being a hospitalera, I am super happy to be a pilgrim today.

This was the most difficult day of my trip so far. The morning started with a climb to the highest point on the Camino (from 1150 m at Rabanal to 1530 m), then down to 580 m at Molinaseca. That’s a lot of elevation change!

Other than muddy patches, the uphill was fairly easy. It was the down that was hard. Some was fine, but a lot was rocky and/or wet and/or mud. The photos are good but don’t do it justice. Towards the end of the day I was walking with Umberto from Rome. We gave each other moral support, paused for flower 🌼 photos, and congratulated each other on arrival to the albergue.

Near the highest point is the Cruz de Ferro, the Iron Cross. The hermit Gaucelmo (for whom the albergue in Rabanal is named) lived in the area and was involved in adding the cross. Initially it was just a wooden pole that was significant to Celts and then Romans. Once the cross was added it became an important symbol of the Christian pilgrimage.

Pilgrims carry a stone to the Cruz that represents a burden, sin, or worry. When you leave the rock at the foot of the cross, you symbolically leave your burden as well.Read more