Day 6 - La Mesa to Castro (Casa Rurales San Julian)

Today was the second of two wonderful, but challenging days of remote mountain hiking.

We began after a night of dorm sleeping with 16 of our closest friends!  Msgr. S. heard the snoring but my combo of earplugs and Tylenol PM was wonderful.

The day began with a sunrise hike in the mountains.  Alas, the Camino went straight uphill from our lodgings.  Beauty and panting combined.


Once we made it over the ridge, we got to enjoy the view of a reservoir hidden in fog below us.  We were 'above the clouds' for a 2nd day of hiking. 


One fun aspect of that was looking down, rather than up, at rainbows in the clouds.


As we descended, both holy hikers were hoping AND miscalculating about how far down the Camino would drop us down before we rose again.   Alas, our route ultimately did drop way down and climb way back up.   All beautiful, but a very decent workout.


We both agreed that a gradual, even not gradual ascent was more fun than picking one's way down the slope with rocks ready to send you sliding to perdition!

When we finally crested the last hill, we found the church called the College of San Salvador in Grandas.  It was nice to find an open church to pray in.  The stereophonic groans of the monsignor's genuflecting was hopefully music to someone in heaven!


We almost walked out of town without lunch, but this error was rectified, even if it meant going back down a hill.  Worth it!

The last leg was endurance, but it ended in a delightful fashion.  Our lodging for the night was a former farmhouse that had a house for a priest and a chapel for him.  So we had Mass in the chapel of St. Julian.  Msgr. S. offered this one for the Newman center students and staff.


13.36 miles.  Over a half marathon, in hills, after five prior days.  Whose idea was this?


Comments

  1. Carolyn ErbSeptember 16, 2024 at 9:00 PM

    Wow! Beauty abounds and may also your continued endurance!

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousSeptember 20, 2024 at 5:07 PM

    Wow!! All I can say wow. That and the scenery is breathtaking! I love the commentary and the pictures.
    Sounds like a once in a lifetime experience.

    ReplyDelete

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