Two Mountains

   This past weekend I had the opportunity to climb two mountains... and had two very different experiences.  I thought the first mountain on Saturday would be the easier one and would prepare me for the larger O´Cebreiro on Sunday.  I couldn´t have been more wrong.  Yes, the first one was not as high, but the climb was a huge challenge for me.
   I´ve been thinking about these two mountains.  How could two experiences be so different?  One difference certainly had to do with expectations.  The first was the middle of three options:  we could walk along the highway (and would still have to climb), we could take option 2, climbing one mountain and enjoying the beautiful views, or we could take option 3, climbing... I think, 2 mountains before heading to O´Cebrieiro (I did not even consider this one).  But because the mountain did not look to bad, and because the guidebook said it would be challenging, but come on, you´ve walked this far - you can do it, and because I wanted to see the views.
    So I made it to Triacastle and stopped for breakfast, then headed up the mountain around 10AM.   I should have had an inkling of what was to come when I turned onton the street leading to the mountain - it went straight up!  And up.  Then turned to a gravel path, and continued to go up.  Yes the views were wonderful, whenever I finally found a level place I could stand.  But the path just seemed to go up and up.  Every so often there would be a short level area and I´d think, yes!  now I can enjoy this.  But it would be shortlived as we would turn a corner and go up yet again.


I didn't need the arrow to tell me I needed to keep going up!



Yes, there is always a great view sooner or later!

    But be careful what you wish for.  At every turn I hoped we would start down, and finally we did.  And the descent was cruel.  It went down in the same way we went up.  I think I mentioned this is my last blog, but it really felt like we were going to descend right into hell.  By the time I reached the little town at the bottom I was done in.  And by the time I reached the Alberque a couple more towns over I was having doubts about even climbing O´Cebreiro.  Thank goodness for the angel of a hostess named Joanna.  She is from Holland and has been to Brazil a number of times so she is volunteering at "Do Brazil" an alberque sponsored by the confraternity of Santiago of Brazil.  I mentioned to her my long day and my concern about O´Cebreiro.  She told me she had hiked the mountain I just came down from and it is much harder the O´Cebreiro.  Oh?  Please tell me more.
    She drew me a picture.  She showed that I would walk about 4 or 5 km on level ground (that was good as it is always dark when I start).  Then I would have a very serious upward climb to La Faba, the first town.  But that was only one-third of the way.  Then I would have to continue to climb, but it would not be so intense, with some level places, really steep short places, then long, slow climbs on to the second village.  Then the climb would continue, but at the slow steady incline.  I hoped she was right.
   And she was!  The walk on Sunday was grueling on that first incline, but over all it was delightful.  I reached O´Cebreiro about noon and realized I still had energy to walk on.  The landscape, though was also changing.  While climbing I left the region of Castilla Y Leon and entered Galacia.  I was constantly hearing water as small mountain streams gushed by or water dripped right out of the mountain to the side of me.  I would come up to amazing vistas looking out over fields of many shades of green.  The air started to feel cooler and as we reached the peak there was a very cool breeze blowing.  But it was sunny and gorgeous and invigorating.
    We all have our ups and downs, but all mountains are not the same.   I continue to walk up and down as I move through the mountains of Galicia.  More about this region and its Celtic influence.  I´d add pictures, but there´s no adaptor here.  Hey - I´m glad I finally found internet!
   May your mountains be manageable and bring about wonderful things!  Bueno Camino!