When I finally open my eyes properly (because two pilgrims turn on the light), I realise myself, Bruno & Michael are the last here, it’s half past six. I get up and start packing as does Michael, Bruno soon realises and follows suit.
By the time we leave it’s close to 8am. Today most people are stopping at Villafranca del Bierzo, a small 22km, I was planning to go a little further.
Oh also my phone had a major meltdown overnight, possibly because of the back up battery case I keep it in… It’s fine again now, I think?!
Despite being overcast the day is warming up already. The walk out is not the prettiest, we pass through industrial zones and suburbs and on to small villages on the road. The best thing are the mountain ranges that surround us. Finally we turn off the road and begin walking through vineyards, Villafranca up ahead in the valley.
We arrive in the town passing the municipal alburgue on the way in, we stop at the next next to the church but they are complet (full), friggin tourist pilgrims booking ahead…! We walk on and stumble onto a very modern albergue, with huge power showers, single beds (no bunks), bedside table and lamp and lots of power sockets…perfect!
Like I said I was going to go further today, but the 22km have been as hard as the 40km days, I’m hot, sticky, tired and I haven’t enjoyed today’s walking at all.
After cleaning up we walk up to the other albergue to see some of the others, then a group of us wander into town to get a coffee. In the square we meet more of our comrades and enjoy a few hours of socialising, talking rubbish and enjoying the hot weather.
Bruno and I head back to the albergue to eat, he helps me get rid of some of my stupidly heavy food supply before we head back to the square for an evening drink. Tomorrow we cross into Galicia and hopefully stop at O Cebreiro. First we have to climb a mighty big hill?!