Left the Parador at 0830 having had a short but very sweet evening in Villafranca. Sadly the route was alongside a road virtually the whole way so dull views and aching feet were the order of the day. However we had chosen to stay at tiny hamlet of La Herrarias as its at base camp before the big climb tomorrow. It's been cloud and rain all day as we enter our last province of Galicia but the good news is fish at last will be on the menu for the first time. Hopi...

Left Molinaseca (which we loved) at 0650 as the weather was going to be 30c today and trudged into Ponferrada. The legs were struggling this morning after the big descent yesterday and everything was really hard work today. However Ponsferrada was like most places we have been to en route with a beautiful church, old bridge, lovely squares etc but it also threw in a 12c Templar castle which is a national monument . We had some food to try and get us going then ...

Left early at 0645 to start climbing up to highest point of the Camino at Cruz de Ferro at 5000 ft . Watching the sun come up in these wild surroundings was great and we made it to the top by 9 and like all the pilgrims had our picture taken. The pile of stones we are standing on are left by every pilgrim in memory of loved ones no longer around. It was quite a special place. What we forgot is there only one way to go from here and that was a walk down 3000ft w...

Left Astorga at 0730 and have had a good walk to village of Rabanal del Camino. Although we have climbed to 3800ft it was gradual and not too hot so enjoyed the views and pit stops en route. This is a lovely village purely catering for pilgrims and we are staying in a good little place and will attack the 10 euro set meal shortly. We are going to have an early night and set off by 0700 so we can get the climb to Cruz de Ferro at 5000ft out of the way before the...

The birthday girl was allowed a lie in so we had breakfast and left at 0830 in bright sunshine. We had 22 km to do so took our time and enjoyed a quiet walk though open countryside which is getting more interesting again. We walked over apparently the finest medieval bridge in Spain at Hospital del Orbigo. For the last 10 days we have been walking on a fairly flat plain never dropping below 2500 ft but we are starting to climb tomorrow & by Thursday we will ...