It was ten months ago today that we left the United States and we marked the occasion with a very memorable moment on our Camino journey – reaching the highest point at 5000 feet in the Montes de Leon range.
For thousands of years pilgrims have marked their own moments here, and beneath the iron cross a mountain of stones and mementos symbolize the collective journey.
Throughout the Camino we have noticed stones placed on wayfinding, markers and crosses. I wasn’t
Letting go of your sorrowssure why, so I googled and learned the placing of a stone in this manner is said to be a way of leaving your sorrows behind. And truly many pilgrims leave not only a stone but
Wayfinding sign with stonesperhaps a photo of a lost loved one.
Even though we knew we would be walking the Camino before we left the USA I hadn’t heard about the tradition of bringing a rock from your home to place at the Cruz de Ferro. So
Cross with stones
over the past months on our travels I have collected three items. I was going to chose just one but now I feel compelled to leave all three.
First the stone heart I found on the beach in Portugal. We leave this to represent our love for each other and our sons.
Our gifts to the collection.
Next the coral I picked up on the beach in the Seychelles. I like the branches that represent our families back home whom we miss and love.
Finally the shell from a beach in Thailand. To me it is symbolic, the empty vessel holding dear all our friends throughout our lives.
Today at the Cruz de Ferro it was truly a sacred and emotional place for many pilgrim to let go of their sorrows. Pilgrims walk for many reasons including gratitude for surviving illness or disaster or in memory of a loved one. Some people finish the walk 
for loved ones who have died on the trail. It happens more than you might think. So arriving at the iron cross means many things to many people and we certainly felt the healing power there.
It may sound corny, but I feel gratitude for this journey we are on and thankful I can share it. Gratitude is my religion and today at the Cruz de Ferro our hearts were full.
Buen Camino.
Total miles so far 350. 139 miles to go.
wondering if it will include vegetables.
gotta go.
astonishing variety of way-finding.
sometimes humorous and rarely difficult.
that day. But you get used to seeing the signs, so if you’ve made a wrong turn you won’t go along too far before you begin to suspect you’ve done something wrong because the 
yellow arrows have disappeared.
their own unique Camino signage. In Logrono they created a more stylized modern look using stone and metal. In the teeny village of Redecilla Del Camino a long 
yellow stripe in the middle of the road through town bearing the Camino scallop shell guided you on your way.
the look of official highway signs, but still in the familiar blue and gold.
Sometimes you can barely make out the yellow spray paint. Sometimes it’s unclear which way the arrow is actually pointing.
As we climbed out of the valley and above the town of Najera we went through a beautiful section of red rock mountains. The yellow arrows stood out against the red rocks.
I still have close to three weeks to go. No doubt there are still more signs ahead to amaze and amuse. But these are the ones that have guided us along these past weeks. On our journey full of
October 8th. Now we think it will be the 11th.
support.
Walking side by side with my husband we sometimes go thirty minutes without speaking. And other times we talk about the future or reminisce about the past or laugh and sing and pass the time in idle chatter.