El Acebo to Ponferrada

I sat at a pilgrim's table last night and it was definitely an international group.  On the right is a Japanese girl, an actor from Italy (he has done a number of plays on Broadway), a German man, a girl from the Netherlands, an Italian man and lastly the blond is from Denmark.  The actor said he had a girlfriend in Rome but it may have been just to keep the blond from taking off her clothes at the table.  (He was wildly handsome and charming but ever so nice.) It was fun to watch her in action.  Ah, the things that amuse the old bystander.

 Nothing but gorgeous scenery all day long.  It was down hill for the first three quarters.  Lots of scree (little rocks that act like ball-bearings).  The last couple of miles were decent uphill.  I think I added a few miles because I stuck with the trail.  I could have shaved off some distance but who wants to walk the highway.

Look at this cute little residence.

Wildflowers.

Yep, it's a snake. ..right in the middle of the trail, crawling slowly over it.  He didn't seem very aggressive.  He certainly wasn't like the viper I saw early on.  I did give him the right of way.  I know exactly how to handle snakes, avoid them at all costs.

I recognized this church from about a miles away. This is the Shrine of our Lady of Anguish in Molinaseca. No self respecting Methodist Church would have this name.  Our names are so mundane like Christ Church United Methodist...a beautiful name in my heart but not gut wrenching like some of the Catholic names. According to the sign, "its porticoes were the ideal shelter for pilgrims and Galician harvesters on their way home from Castilla.  When passing they would take a spliner from the hermitage door and offer their sickles as toke (of appreciation) to the Virgin, thus the need to

protect the temple wooden doors with metal plates."

The pilgrim's way in Molinesca crosses the "Pilgrim's Bridge...

and continues down the Real Street...

...and ends at the cross at the end of town.

Look at the beautiful Wisteria.

And the purple Iris.  They were planted all along a fence row.

The Spanish are serious about recycling but this made me laugh.  What a clever recycle bin and it was 3D.

Just coming in to Ponferrada.  14.1 miles and a whole bunch of steps...my watch locked up on the stepper part. I have tomorrow off and I am going to see some sights and find a grocery and relax!