A Day for Retrospective Glorification

Day 23 Molinaseca to Villafranca

Miles today: 20.5

Elevation gain: 919’

Descent: 1116’

Walking miles: 273.1

Total Camino miles: 387.6

Moving speed: 2.9 mph

Not all those who wander are lost

——J R Tolkien

Today was a perfect day....a perfect day for Retrospective Glorification!

We began the morning quite early, opting for the “picnic” breakfast so we could get a fast start to a very long day. After eating a small plain yogurt and drinking a bottle of pineapple juice, we all pitched the rest of the unappealing food and set out walking at 7:30 am, once again in full rain gear. No coffee for this breakfast, a first for this trip!

It was raining lightly and quite cold, continuing to rain on and off all morning. Our first coffee break was after 5 miles at a great cafe across from the castle in Ponferrada. We had cafe con leche and a large croissants filled with chocolate. Finding that insufficient, we all ordered eggs with bacon and sausage and another coffee. The outskirts of Ponferrada were gorgeous with beautiful old homes with gorgeous gardens in a neighrhood surrounding a tennis club. (See photos below)

The miles continued and the weather improved a bit with some brief sun, but still cold and some rain. For 18 miles things were relatively good., Then at 18 miles the sky darkened and the wind increased. The rains began in earnest, slowly increasing in intensity the closer we got to our accommodation in Villafranca. We walked through muddy roads, through mud puddles, and were splashed by passing cars. By the time we arrived we were each completely soaked. In short order our rooms were strewn with wet gear and we were enjoying hot showers.

This is one of those days that will fit the principles of “Retrospective Glorification”. Retrospective Glorification refers to any adventure or experience that is filled with difficultly, bad weather, or challenging conditions. As time lapses since that experience, the bad times are slowly forgotten and the good times are remembered more intensely.

Without Retrospective Glorification we would never repeat many of the things we do!