• ShaunLCCamino de Santiago - May 2025Traveler
    Climbing through the valley alongside the road, it's that Way
    Overlooking Villafranca del Bierzo on a chilly morning in the shade1Fortunately I stocked up recently on antihistamines, the spring allergies are hitting hardSantiago always has his back to the sun following the WayLovely stone built homes in the villages through the valleyThis dog did not want to venture into the deeper cold water, he just barked at the sticksDonkeys in the valleyChickens in the valley1A perfect picnic lunch stop alongside the streamThe bells never stopThe white marks are from hiking poles slipping on the roadA choice, right might be quicker, left will have more shade?It was too hot, left in the shade1Some people rent horses for the big climb. He's returning from delivering a group.One horse was trailing behindUp and up. It was more shade but steeper.Looking back over the valley

    Day 28 - The final big climb in the heat

    May 27 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 9 °C

    Villafranca del Bierzo to La Laguna
    26.7km
    Accumulated distance 675.4km
    Up early because the room next door had a 5am alarm and the sound insulation in the hotel wasn’t great. I dozed a bit but up before 6, a picnic breakfast, then on the road.
    It was a chilly start, 8 degrees, but easy walking for most of the morning alongside the road through the valley. The road wasn’t busy, and for the whole morning the road followed the river so the sound of water was a constant companion.
    The villages continue to be cute stone buildings, but again lots of dilapidated and falling down old houses.
    I bumped into Fiona from country Victoria for coffee, the first familiar face since León.
    Picnic lunch alongside a lovely stream in Herrerias, just before the big climb started. I’d done 20km on gentle incline up the valley, another 6km to go but about 500m up. Boy it was hot, fortunately one of the routes had some shade through the woods, but coming out the other side was energy sapping and I had to refill water.
    Got into La Laguna to my hotel about 1/2 hr from the summit, the only accommodation in the village.
    Moment of the day was all the sounds, the cuckoo, the water, the cow bells, and the birdsong.    Read more