The weather today started out well enough. Cool and overcast. Threre was a big, steep climb out of Villafranca; so steep, I had to push my bike and packs up the trail a few feet at a time for about a mile before I could ride off/on until I reached the first summit about an hour later. Then though farmers orchards where the Camino all but disappeared. Then really steep down to ride on a small road along a river for about 5 miles. It started sprinkling off/on a few minutes at at time. I'd only passed maybe a dozen Pilgrims all morning, so no one really wanted to exchange stories and it started to rain a bit more. About half way to the second pass, it turned steep, but rideable on a small paved road. Then turned so steep that I had to start walking. It started raining lightly but no wind to speak of. After about an hour f rain and walking and biking, it started raining heavier and I was wet and starting to get cold. I finally got to a small town about 2 miles to the summit at 3,000 ft and stopped into the one bar there to warm up and had something to eat. I came out and it was starting to snow and I thought it's only another 2 miles to a bit larger town at the summit, so I rode up another steep section in a light snow. Then it starting snowing heavily and I was getting really cold and wet. I made it to the town and summit in heavy flurries and decided to see if I could find a room for the night rather than risk going down a steep hill on the snow and really cold. Good news... I got the last room at this small hotel here.
Long story short, the weather has been as much of the Camino as anything. The rain, mud, heat, wind and now snow have made the Camino that much harder. I guess it's always been that way and probably much worse in times past. It's one more thing that makes you grateful for the easy life I have back home and makes you dig deep at times to continue and also decide the point when bravado is just ego and it's time to realize I need to stop. Wisdom is coming...
Dave
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