Cruz de Ferro

This was an important and emotional moment. I’m not going to explain too much in this post, so here is a page with a quick backstory (I can’t find the wiki page in English, so you will have to use google translate if you do not read Spanish).

Ferro de Cruz also marks the highest point of the Camino Frances: 1,515 meters above sea level. It was incredibly cold to the top.

The tradition is that pilgrims carry a stone from their home to symbolize their burdens in life, then leave the stone at the base of the cross as a way of relieving their burdens and troubles.

Here’s what years of stones piled up looks like when you approach it:

I carried B.C.G.’s stone for her. Thank you for being my friend for 33+ years. I love you and have faith everything will be ok.

I carried L.H.’s stone for him. Thank you for being my friend for 33+ years. I love you and have faith everything will be ok.

I brought two “stones” of my own. I release it all today.

I placed all four pieces at the base of the cross facing west in the direction of Santiago… and in the direction of home. I didn’t want our stones facing east, the direction from which I climbed. That’s looking back instead of looking forward.

I will write about the rest of today later, perhaps combined with tomorrow. This is a stand-alone post.