Camino Day 28: Molinaseca to Villafranca

Total Distance: 31km
Step Count: 44.6k
Blisters to date: 2
Tortillas to date: 22
Injuries: shin splints

Today was meant to be a 24km day but we were told that if we could walk a bit longer, we should go to Villafranca del Bierzo, which we were glad we did!

The walk was very enjoyable and full of surprises! Even walking through Ponferrada where everything was closed due to the town’s festival led us to finding cocosettes! These yummy Venezuelan wafers would accompany our coffees over the next couple days. 😋

After Ponferrada and a couple kms walking through an industrial zone, we rejoined the actual Camino and ran into little John who we’d walk with for the rest of the day. We also met Anna from Germany in one of our coffee/beer stops. We had so many stops today we thought we’d never make it to our destination but we couldn’t say no to coffee or beer or ice cream or Venezuelan arepas! I had literally manifested arepas that morning and the camino provided! ✨

Little John treated us to lunch (so sweet!) and we found the most beautiful of chapels along the way too.

We also got stopped by a truck that was passing by when were walking through Cacabelos and the driver told us to grab some grapes from the back… we hadn’t quite realised what was happening but we were so surprised and grateful when we did. They were delish! 🍇

The final Kms were all uphill which my shin splints were really appreciated. It was also cloudy which we all appreciated!

Walking into Villafranca was absolutely beautiful! The town is set in a valley surrounded by mountains and greenery. Apparently, it also has around 10 churches (crazy for a town that size!) but all the ones we saw were closed. However, we did make it to dinner before the downpour! Everyone ran inside the restaurant but a few of us just kept eating and 15min later it was all over! 😅Read more