Day 27 - Last push before the mountain

Ponferrada to Villafranca del Bierzo
26.2km
Accumulated distance 648.7km
Today was planned to be a relatively straight forward day, and don’t turned out. The weather started out with light cloud but that burned away to a hot day, 31deg at 5pm.
The walk out of Ponferrada was similar to most towns, not particularly exciting, but noticeable with the raised living standards and quality of homes. One suburb in particular was very fancy indeed.
A real surprise and a treat was being stopped by a primary school girl asking to interview me. What a little darling she was, quickly switching to conversational English and working through a questionnaire. I even got a lapel pin from her, what a highlight.
It was also evident as we approached the countryside that more subsistence and market gardens were being tended, and also that the towns and villages had more people and life in them. Maybe the previous ghost towns were related to the level of affluence.
We were also getting into wine country, with more and more expansive vineyards becoming prominent.
The last part of the walk I teamed up with Jose from Cadiz, a very friendly Spanish guy who was very keen to talk.
Arrived in Villafranca del Bierzo at about 2.30pm and the heat was already mid to upper 20s.
Found my hotel, with a great view over the river, settled in and then explored the very neat town.
Moment of the day was my interview with the primary school, it sure put a smile on my dial.Read more