The weather forecast was bad: rain all morning and thunderstorm from about midday. It’s not far to de Bachimaña and I hoped to get there before the thunderstorms. I was on my way at 9 o’clock. At the start of the path, I bumped into Synna and Kristin, Norwegian hikers who I saw on the bus to Panticosa, but they got off before me.

It actually stopped raining and I took off my coat. There were a few drops later, but nothing like the forecast said. When I got to de Bachimaña, after a quick coffee, I managed to watch the Mass. There is a church in Panticosa, but it’s nothing but a building 😞

After I checked in the sky was clear and the walk around the big lake was in order. The views are stunning!

At some point the path crossed the stream. While the weather during the day was mainly dry, it did rain heavily for the last two nights. There was a group of people ahead of me and I saw that they struggled to cross. I eventually found the way without dipping in my boots. My worry wasn’t getting wet, but drying them after.

Then, there was another stream much deeper and much faster and all places where people seem to cross it at least a few of the stones making the path were flooded and it was hard to say how deep under the water the stones were. In the mountains, all distances are deceiving. Anyway, I looked around and couldn’t find a crossing. I started walking up the stream thinking that higher up the stream should be narrower… and the current stronger🙄. I got to the point of invoking help of St. Christopher who is a patron saint of travellers. Funnily enough, the legend says (doesn’t matter that it’s a legend – useful for story telling 🤣) that he was a very big man who devoted himself to carry weak and poor across a river. No, I’m not that disillusioned and I didn’t expect a tall, blue-eyed and handsome to appear and carry me across 🤣 Anyway, an inspiration from St Christopher or anyone else (St. Jude?) would have been appreciated. As I say, I tried walking up the stream – no chance to cross the fast current there. However, I got as far as the third lake and I saw a dam which meant, I could pass there.

My joy was short-lived. After seeing this…

I saw this…

Another half of this dam was overflowing. Dam it! No, it’s not a typo! Though, I only came up with this word play as I was writing. I used a bit more colourful language when I saw it.

I turned to walk back down and just laughed. I checked again all possible crossings, but there was no place where I could cross the stream dry-footed. Then it came to me…

After crossing the stream, I checked de Cabana el Pastor on other side and walked back to de Bachimaña soaking up the views. I even said hello to a marmot or two. I came back the refuge so joyful, even though I pulled a muscle or a ligament under my right knee. Hopefully, it’s not thing massive and Voltarol can deal with it.

On the mountain the Lord will provide