The walking distance on the Camino de Santiago between Pamplona and Santiago de Compostela is 743 kilometers, or 461 miles. We are now in Ocebreiro, Spain, 179 walking kilometers before Santiago. That means we have now walked 349 miles and we have 112 miles remaining on this incredible journey. We started our Camino in the Navarre region of Spain, then through Castille and today we walked into our final region, Galicia.

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in Las Herrerias on the old dairy and cheese farm. It was beautiful walking out of the town this morning after a small country breakfast in the hotel. Not long after walking through the village, we found ourselves on a steep mountain ascent. The trail kept going up and up and up. After a few miles of hiking up this mountain, I was incredibly happy to arrive at the first village for a break, LaFaba.

I continued up and up the steep, but gorgeous mountains as it started raining. I didn’t bother putting on my rain gear because I was getting hot and the light rain felt fresh and cool, so I kept walking. Every time I thought I’d reached the summit, the trail kept going higher. I knew my walk was only 7 miles today. What I finally discovered is the entire 7 miles is climbing these steep mountain trails until I reached the historic village of Ocebreiro.

Ocebreiro is an historic celtic village on the mountain summit. Just before reaching the village I saw a land marker showing that we’d just crossed from Castille into Galicia. The Galician region of Spain has old communities of celtic descent. Walking into the village was a huge relief after making it up that mountain. The amazing surprise was to see the village has a much different look than the traditional Spanish villages we’d traveled through up to this point. To duck cover from the rain I retreated into the town church, the oldest on the Camino still in use, from the 9th century. I spent some quiet time inside, lighting a beautiful candle for my brother Kent, wishing him well thoughts in the chapel.

I wandered the picturesque streets of the village and found our charming inn, Venta Celta. As I walked in, two ladies greeted me and I could see they had made a large pot of stew, simmerimg on the stove. Nothing could have been better, so I asked for a bowl and slurped it up. Sitting in the ancient stone tavern, eating hot stew from an old time ceramic bowl made me feel like I was in the scene of a movie from the middle ages. I’m sure the tavern and inn look just as they did 500 years ago. I really like being in Galicia, so far.

Tonight we had a special treat meeting back up with Ebony. Her sister Cherise joined her last week, so we met her. Ebony’s Mom joined up with her here in Ocebreiro. What a beautiful place to start her journey on the Camino. Our warm Camino family is growing.

Saying goodbye to Las Herrerias

Mountain stream on today’s Camino to Ocebreiro

Eladio walking up the mountain to Ocebreiro

Up and up and up 7 miles

Mountain farmhouse on Camino before Ocebreiro

Wild forget me nots blooming on Camino

Galicia marker after walking in Castille

Close up of Galicia region marker

Where the heck is the top of this freakin mountain, geez.

..but wait, there’s more!

Celtic mountain village of Ocebreiro Spain

Celtic mountain village of Ocebreiro Spain

Celtic mountain village of Ocebreiro

Ancient Celtic village of Ocebreiro, dates back to 9th century.

Church in Ocebreiro from 9th century

Lighting a candle for my brother, Kent in Ocebreiro Spain

Lighting a candle for my brother, Kent

Lighted candles in 9th century church in Ocebreiro

9th century chapel in Ocebreiro

Our inn in the mountain village Ocebreiro

Inside our charming inn, Ocebreiro Spain

So happy to meet back up with Ebony. Her Mom and sister Cherise are now here.