Acebo to Ponferrada

We both slept well and woke to a beautiful sunrise and another cool start to the day.
Mum made the wise decision to share a taxi (arranged with another lady the night before) for the first half of the walk as it was going to be a lot more slate, rocks and continuing the steep descent. It was a good decision. I walked with Sandee setting off about 830am and agreed to meet Mum 2 hours later.
It was a steep descent and lovely trail. We met up with another pilgrim and talked most of the way and the walk went quickly.
We met Mum in a gorgeous little town, Molinaseca for coffee.
We then continued on the final 8kms to Ponferrada. A larger town with 69,000 people.
We are staying in a great hotel just outside the city walls.
We walked to the main square via a laundromat (doing Amr proud) and had a light late lunch to avoid being hangry (me) and 3rd time likely found an ATM we could withdraw €.
We had a meander via the castle and beautiful churches and squares before we met Sandee and Tim for a drink. Mum and I enjoyed a delicious feast at a favourite restaurant of hers and Amr’s (La Violeta) in the main square.
A lovely chat with Paul at the restaurant and then Moo when we were back at the hotel. Time for bed for these pilgrims!
One last reflection from me…
Mum has become somewhat of a celebrity on the Camino. A number of people have asked her age (just as well she’s happy to share) and I find it amusing they don’t think twice about asking! The masseuse, Mexican, Polish, Aussie and Swedish pilgrims have called her an “inspiration “, which she is!
Over to Mum for any additional comments:

Well, it’s now after midnight, we are sleepy (Cathy already has eyeshades on)..but I will write a little bit…I was happy to miss the second half of the downhill walk…some muscle has tweaked in my lower back (my theory is trying to reach toilet paper twisting round in a very awkward place!) and it was perfect timing meeting Cathy In Molinaseca AND the taxi driver was Luís, my friend from 2 years ago…he wouldn’t have remembered me, but he was happy that I remembered him! So we are in lovely Ponferrada and yes, we found a laundromat nearby so all good. We went to find an ATM for cash for the dryer while the wash was on and found later that we could have done it on a card!! Oh well, euros are always handy…lovely dinner and had long chat with Michael who has just arrived in Frankfurt…so we are all (Cathy, Paul, Michael and I) on the same time zone. Was falling asleep during Moo’s call, but now showered and hope I can actually sleep. Good night…もっと詳しく