Adios Santa Catalina – El Camino Day 15

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The dreary weather seems to have set in for the time being so we were in for another wet and misty day. We had a good night last night with our fellow pilgrims and enjoyed a meal with them.

The hotel we stayed in was a delight. It was done out very well. No detail was missed. I don’t really like to brag about hotels I stay in as a) I don’t really stay in all that many and b) I prefer to spend my money on other things. But as this one was in our budget we found it one of the best ones so far. The couple who owned it were most probably high flyers who were looking for a quieter life and found it here in a small town in country Spain.

A quaint stone building with a red door and decorative flower pots, set on a misty day in a small Spanish town.
Hotel from the outside, unassuming

The German pilgrim Johannes decided to tag along with us for the most part of today and was happy to chat and walk at our pace. We had just under 19km to walk so we were able to take it a bit easier. There was a lot of climbing to do today as we are nearly at one of the highest points in our walk. When I say climb I mean uphill walking.

A man enjoying a meal in a cozy, rustic dining area featuring stone walls and wooden furniture.
Eating breakfast in the dining room
A cozy hotel room featuring two twin beds with white bedspreads, colorful pillows, and wooden accents. A window is open, showing a view of the outside environment. Luggage and walking gear are placed beside the beds.
The hotel room
A misty street scene showing a wet road lined with trees and houses, under overcast skies.
Bye bye Santa Catalina

The path out of town followed the main road for most of the time. we couldn’t see a whole lot of the surrounds because of the mist. We were hoping for good weather along this part of the track as it’s supposed to be the best scenery for the next couple of days. Thankfully the weather forecasts clear skies tomorrow.

A misty path lined with shrubs and a solitary tree, leading into a foggy landscape.
The path out of town
A misty and rainy landscape featuring a dirt path lined with grass and bushes, leading to a tree on one side, with fields and hay bales in the background.
More of the same looking track

It was frustrating at times not being able to see what was in the far distance and what views we were missing out on but as we have no say in the matter I can only trust that the Lord will have good things for us ahead. I suppose today was a reflection day but to be honest I can’t say I did a lot of that.

It’s interesting the people you meet along the way, fellow pilgrims that is. We’ve met some interesting characters and reasons as to why they’re doing the Camino. It reminds me of the movie ‘The Way’ where the main character meets a whole lot of nut jobs that begin and continue to walk the Camino with him.

A stone church with a wooden door and a bell tower, featuring a bird's nest on top, located on a misty street in a small town.
A church we passed in a small town

Fortunately for the most part we don’t have nut jobs walking along with us but a few interesting characters and reasons why. A lot of young guys seem to be walking the Camino to find meaning in their lives or answers to questions they may have and to process things. People come and go walking with us. Most people we meet are quite content to walk by themselves and like Ron and I for the most part do too. Occasionally someone latches on and then lets go and goes their own way. It’s the way it’s meant to be I think.

A white monument with a cross stands in a misty landscape, surrounded by bare trees and brush. The scene conveys a sense of serenity and reflection.
Memorial for someone who died walking the Camino

Today for the first time we came across about 4 or 5 monuments to pilgrims who’d passed away on the Camino. Interesting that we have them dotted along the uphill part of the track.

View of a misty forest path with stacked logs on the right side, surrounded by greenery.
We go via a pine forest again
A misty landscape featuring a narrow road lined with grass, a stone building on the left, and trees in the background.
Then through another town

We stopped here for a coffee and no joke it was up there with International Roast class of coffee. Terrible, had to be thrown out. Especially served to us by someone wearing tracksuit pants and the coffee in a clear plastic cup. Gorgeous!

From this town onwards it was a fairly steep climb and it really felt like we were up in the clouds at this stage.

A winding path through lush green grass and sparse brown trees on a misty day.
Upwards we go
A misty landscape showcasing a narrow dirt path surrounded by colorful foliage and trees on a cloudy day.
Panorama looking back
A misty forest path with dry autumn leaves on the ground and trees surrounding the trail.
Autumn still happening, lots of lichen
A hiker wearing a bright green rain cover walks along a misty dirt path surrounded by sparse trees and tall grass.
Ron powering on
A hiker standing on a misty, rocky path near a tree, surrounded by fog and shrubbery.
I’m in cloud 9 literally

It was cloud all the way to our destination for tonight, Foncebadón. This town is at the highest elevation of our stay. Tomorrow we climb a little more to the highest point of the walk.

A misty street scene in a small town in Spain, partially obscured by fog, with buildings and a few people walking.
Our town for the evening, Foncebadón, in Cloud 9

A good walk for today but I’m certainly craving the sunshine by now. Forecast for tomorrow is that so I’m looking forward to it. Hopefully we get some views of the landscape we’re walking in.

Buen Camino! 😊

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