Day 30 May 31 Tuesday Triacastela

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Day 30 May 31

As we left the mountain O’Cebriero this morning at 7:45am we were greeted with very heavy mountain fog - with the hints of sprinkles- so being the sort who does not want to get wet sported the rain gear 

It was useful for the first half hour then the weather cleared and remained so for the rest of the trip today

We have so lucky thus far with the weather 

Passing through many little towns again on the leg made the walk quite enjoyable- although we did have the hill of all hills to climb - short lived and well groomed

Stopped once for a short rest we soldiered on for the 22 km to Tricastle for the days end

Last evening we went to the Pilgrims Mass at the historic church on O'Cebriero and it was full of pilgrims. Many take this as a starting point for their Camino and the tour bus pilgrims also start here. The church is staffed by Priests and Monks and the three I met back in Astorga at the Cathedral who were from Pennsylvania were there also 

The Monk leading the service was also a priest and he was very welcoming to us all from around the world. The oldest pilgrim there was an 84 year old gentleman

At the end of the Mass he invited all up to the Sanctuary for a pilgrim blessing and he gave each a stone with the Camino yellow arrow. It was a great evening.

Now a little history on this very special church.

As the story goes a priest was not kind to a particular pilgrim who had climbed the hill and attended Mass. As the priest administered the Communion the wine in the chalice turned to blood. The church dates back to the 9th century. I was blessed to have attended the pilgrim mass back in 2017 and last evening in one of what I consider to be a very beautiful church on the Camino.

Pictures

1- the church on O’Cebriero

2- Sanctuary during the service

3- pilgrims blessing

4- our three pilgrim stones the priest gave us

5- pilgrim statue in the wind

6-inquisitive spectator 

7- 100year old chestnut tree

8- same tree

9- trail this morning

10- 

Good day 

As we near our last few days

Till then

Buen Camino

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