Ponferrada to Villafranca Del Bierzo

It wasn't until we woke up this morning and had to walk to the bathroom that we realized the toll the steep descents had taken on our bodies.  Our calves felt like they were cast in concrete, and we walked the Frankenstein walk as though we had just finished a marathon.  It took a while to work the kinks out, but I have to admit that as a result this was probably my most difficult day physically and emotionally.  I also discovered an extra blister on the side of my right foot big toe, so now I have 3 Compeed patches (miracle stuff) on my feet while Diane has 4.

After a nice buffet breakfast - often it's just a slice of toast and coffee - we soon left the city of Ponferrada behind.  As we crossed the bridge leaving town, I took one more shot of the Knights Templar castle in the distance...

Much of the day today was spent walking along quiet paved roads, and through several villages, but very little through countryside away from traffic.  Fortunately, there's not too much of that, and after today we head back to the mountains again.  As we walked along, the cherry trees with branches hanging over the road proved too much a temptation for Diane...

All along the first several kms there were vegetable gardens after vegetable gardens, all of them being tended by obviously elderly people.  The gentleman cutting his grass with an old fashioned scythe reminded me of my great grandpa.  On his 100th birthday, city officials from Assen, Netherlands, came to my grandparents' place - where he lived - to congratulate him.  They passed an old man cutting grass with a scythe along the driveway to the farmhouse, and when they got to the door and asked for old man Veenstra they were informed they had just passed him on the driveway cutting the grass.  Way to go, ouwe Opa!

As it was another sunny day, I also caught this lizard sunning him (her?) self on the road.  

In the town of Cacabelos, we came across a public market, though we were not inclined to do any shopping.  Too tired, and it was time for lunch...

As we got closer to our destination, we found ourselves in the countryside again, and in another major wine growing region of Spain - Bierzo...

Jeff tried taking a picture as well, but couldn't get his lens to open...

The last few kms took us along dirt roads through the vineyards used by those tending these fields...

We were very glad to see the village getting near, as I was frankly exhausted and Diane might have a story to tell about my crankiness level.  I loved this sign on one of the houses warning us about the man eating dog protecting the premises, or at least the derrière exposing mongrel on the loose...

And here, finally, are some photos of the town where we are spending the next 2 nights, as we enjoy our 4th rest day...all of these taken by Diane rather than her tired and somewhat grumpy husband...

This is also where we met our other friends from Surrey, Arlene and Joyce, whom we had not seen since we left Astorga...and they as well as us were dead tired.

We are staying here in a very nice, small boutique hotel, and plan to simply rest, as this is a small town with a population of only 4000.  We are getting ready to go out for a pilgrim's meal, and then hopefully a good night's sleep.  As there won't be much going on tomorrow, I will skip blogging for at least one day.  Be back in 2 days...

Distance today: 23.4 kms

Time on the road: 6:20

Total distance to date: 607.8 kms

Walking days remaining: 10