Molinaseca to Villafranca

31km today.  A lot of road thru urban areas and then some viniards.  Tomorrow up the mountain.  Started walking at dawn, it's hard to sleep in an albergue.

Little bit of country before the city.

Here's the big town I had to go thru today.

So if you had a Mercedes would you park it under this balcony.  The picture doesn't show the roof well but the tiles didn't look too secure either.

Big bridge, little water.  You can tell how old a bridge is by its ratio to water.  Older the less water.

Breakfast of champions.  Chocolate with a couresant.

Nice square showing off the church.

Little more modern church.

So this is how you get a crane to stay off your church.  Build a platform that's taller right next to it.

You don't usually see color on the houses, this was nice.

So almost got lost here.  But it's easy to know when your off route.  Hit an intersection and if you don't see any yellow arrows, bring out google to get back on track.  Oh well little detour today, only has happened a few times.

So here are some houses being built.  What I find fascination is we put the roof tiles last.  Here they practically do them first.

I like walking thru viniards, although my feet were done early today.  The last few days I think have finally kicked in.

There was a "street vendor", should be called a vendor in the middle of no where, but anyway.  These were 1Euro.  I didn't have change only a five, they didn't have change so they said they'd give them to me.  I dug up 60cents and gave that to them.  Man these were good, got me thru a few more kilometers.

Strange.

Heading out of the last town.  Was tempted to call it quits but tomorrow is all uphill so didn't want to add anything extra.

Some kind of olive press. It's huge.

So right before this point I was dragging.  So three people passed me.  I decided I'd pretend I was a bike and draft off the last set that passed me.  Stay close as motivation.  Their pace was acceptable.  Worked well, then the other person that passed was Spanish from Barcelona so I started talking with her.  Barley made it but I got there with her assistance.  

Here is my town for the night.  I was so dead I checked into a Parador.  Not a castle but it's nice.  It has a giant bathtub so a good long soak and things are starting to function again.  I checked out the indoor pool but it was busy with kids.

Tomorrow is uphill all day.  Depending the route it can be the biggest climb to date.  I will likely take the easiest route, the middle route goes up a hill and is suppose to have great views but then you come back down before climbing again.  Downhills and my knee don't agree so I'll have to skip.  The other route is primitive and is advised that you are in excellent shape.  Nope, so I cheat.  There is still a view when you get to the top, 1300m.  Currently at about 550m.

Rabanal to Molinaseca

26.5km today of beautiful, although cold at times, mountains.

The day started with a slight incline for a total today of 600m climbed(1968 feet).  One thing about today is everyone was eating.  Must be the gloomy weather that makes you eat more.

The main thing we passed today was La Cruz de Ferro.  At this cross you are to leave your burdens behind.  Many people bring rocks that they carry the whole journey to this point and then leave it to start anew.  I didn't bring a rock but Gabriel my Puerto Rican buddy lent me one of his to write on with a sharpy and leave.  I wrote "Arizona/ Puerto Rico" for my new found friends.

If you ever need your roof fixed don't call this guy.

A view back on the valley we left.

The clouds are settling in with the rain.  A lot of slate on today's walk.

It must be cold I have ice forming on my pants.

Still climbing but the rain stopped.  The wind was the worst. But now the views are showing thru.  I was dressed for the weather.  Gloves were key!  I put a doggy bag between my sock layers, so my feet were dry and warm.  Bad part is I got a new heel blister cause the bags cause your feet to glide a bit.  But I think if my feet had been cold I would not have enjoyed the walk.

My Puerto Rican friends destination.  They actually got picked up on the road by the guy running the casa rural they were staying at.  I finished the walk down, it was cold but nice.

Stopped in town to wish my new friends "Buen Camino". But my feet still had life so I continue on.

The view of my future.

But first this disgrace for a trail.  More like an Arizona mountain wash if you ask me.  It was a tough 8.3km.  All down hill, mostly rock, all wet from the rain.  It was slow going but I did get to see two beautiful hawks gliding thru the air together.  Also I was watching my feet so much I got whacked by a tree that did not have much give.

Ah my destination in the distance.

Picturesque entry into the town.  Church and bridge.

I'm staying at the municipal albergue tonight.  Luck was on my side, I was heading to another albergue but a gentleman told me about bugs that bite at that place.  So I decided, nope off to the municipal.  Great choice.  Nice volunteer from Logroño.  Simple accommodations only half full so very quiet.  The only complaint was the area to wash cloths.  They were showers out back that looked like a hurricane had hit with the debree.  Luckily i decided to wash the minimum so just did it without setting anything down.

Had a great dinner for under 9 Euros at the palace.  This included the usual two courses, desert and bottle of wine.  But on top of that I was given some green shot that tasted like licorice.  I think I'll sleep well tonight. Talked to an east German gentalmen living now in Ireland.  Great info on the wall coming down and how things changed.

Fun fact his grandmother applied to get a phone at the age of 55, she got it when she turned 80.  Took 25 years. 

No wifi so will have to upload tomorrow.

Hospital de Orbigo to Rabanal del camino

Started the day around 7:30. Didn't end until 7pm.  But wait, I covered 38km, there was a reason for the madness. 

Morning started beutifully with cloud cover.  The start was along fields with mini iregation ditches between the road and fields.  The morning noises are neat the water trickling and the birds singing.  Hen tere are the freely frogs that croak as you walk by.  When your use to being wary of rustling bushes it takes getting use to all the noises along the walk. Today there was a little variety in the fields. Some potatos and green beans.

A lot of the walk his morning was great country.

These vines are not as nicely managed as the ones in the wine region.

This seemed like an area where people left things that a pilgrim shouldn't have brought in the first place.

Lots of variety today.

After this place in the distance I had only a few kilometers to my destination.

Approaching town I met two girls fresh out of college from Louisiana. Had a great chat with them all the way into town.  There was this bridge on the way in.  Talk about switch backs.

Neat cathedral.  I later found out that it was started in the 14th century and took century's to finish so it has many diffrent materials and architectures.

This is a house or something next to it.  It has Gaudi's name on the outside but not sure if it's one of his designs.

Almost there.

I can't remember but I think is was my destination.  But as I was leaving the last town I met a lady Terri and her grandson.  They are from Puerto Rico.  We had wonderful conversation so after a short discussion with my feet I decide to hike on with them to their destination.

It is so wonderful to meet people along the way, we had a great day and I'm very glad I decided to hike on.  This bar called "cowboy bar" had a bartender that was a little nuts.  But a hoot.  We were talking about his hats and he said if he liked someone's hat he would kill for it.  Terri had been in the bathroom and when she came out he analyzed her hat and said, your lucky I only like it a little.  Terri said he is kinda like the guy Ramon for "The Way".  I'll have to see when I watch it again.

Really have not seen many thatch housed roofs.

Looks like mountains in our future.

One last climb.

Yay we made it.  This town was all up hill.  From one end to the other never flat.  Tonight I decided to stay in the hotel that Terri and Gabriel were staying at.  We had a great dinner where I met her husband Mike.  Although the scenery is great the people are the best part!

So tomorrow I don't plan.  We will see where my feet take me.