Molinaseca

Today we ascended to the highest point of our whole journey through the pass of Irago. The morning climb was fairly long and constant but nothing excessively steep and we enjoyed it. At the top was Cruz de Ferro, a Camino monument atop the highest point of our journey made up of a single iron cross atop a weathered pole. People add stones and other tokens of love, hope and blessing to the great pile. Laura placed her two stones and I inserted a rock that I have carried with me from California. It carries with it all our well wishes and love for our dear friend Bill Giachino for his full and complete recovery.
After a few more undulating hills where we were treated to amazing snow capped mountain sceneries, we started descending. And what a descent! Steep and never ending, for hours, and far beyond what we ascended the past few days. Laura was having a terrific day, allowing gravity to do her work. I suffered. My ankles rolled, my big and little toes complained, the soles of my feet burned, and my knees cussed at me.
Eventually, 27km ended in our town of Molinaseca. We quickly worked our way to the river, just below our hotel. Armed with our two legged chairs, some chocolate, tangerines, books and a bottle of wine, we soaked our sore ankles and feet in the cool water of the river. Then Laura took a long bath and I went back on the trail to greet and cheer our friends as they crawled into town.
Tonight we had a group dinner as well as a group walk and said our farewells to new found friends as Laura and I will be falling behind a bit as we meet her mom tomorrow in Ponferrada, only a 7.5 km walk away.