Day 25 - Molinaseca to Villafranca

We leave Molinaseca still feeling pretty tired, but looking forward to what our new day will bring. We are now the other side of the mountain range and already we can feel the change in the climate.

We pass through Campo, an historic village with many well preserved buildings. There is a still functioning Roman water cistern.

On in to Ponferrada. This is the Castillo de Los Templarios, a magnificent building. It houses the Templar library which contains almost 1,400 books including works of Leonardo da Vinci.

It was originally built as a hilltop fort and later a Roman citadel. At the beginning of the 12th century, the Templar Knights took possession of the fortress and reinforced and extended it to use it as an inhabitable palace and for the protection, on the route of the pilgrims on the way to Santiago.

There are twelve original towers of the castle, which is entered via a draw bridge.

The Basilica de la Encina, built in the 16th century in the shape of a Latin Cross. The tower was later added in the 17th century.

We find some shade and take a break for a snack. The old fella has his usual siesta.

Due to the change in the climate of the region, we are now back in the wine producing region. Also the field crops are now potatoes and an assortment of fruit trees.

The climate here seems to have made a difference of maybe 4-6 weeks to the growing stage of the vines. The fruit trees are heavy with ripe cherries and the pears are already forming. We even saw some wheat fields golden and ready for harvest.

We passed this pilgrim who is pulling a trolley loaded with his possessions and accompanied by his two dogs.

The dogs had just gone for a refreshing swim in a stream.

We carry on into Cacabelos which was an important medieval pilgrim halt with 5 hospices founded for the care of the pilgrims on the way.

This a 18th century wine press. A traditional apparatus constructed from a large Chestnut wood beam with spindle and weight which facilitates the movement and pressing of the grapes.

The heat of the afternoon sun is draining us, it's now 28 degrees and very dusty but the occasional breeze is very welcoming.

We continue through the El Bierzo landscape and pass a small dwelling in the most picturesque setting.

Eventually descend into Villafranca, we are very hot and tired. It has been a long haul over two very hot days, but we are fitter now than ever and have kept a good pace over 7 hours today.

The view from my hotel widow! which has a pool, there's no stopping us. A swim and a massage from the high pressure water jets and a relaxing lay on the loungers in the sun is a perfect end to a perfect day.

Now off to dinner.

Tomorrow is anther long hard day, 30km to O'Cebreiro and a climb of 2000ft.

Oh and the storm clouds are now building and we can hear the rumbling of thunder in the distance. Could be a wet day tomorrow.