Just waiting in the queue for the certificate. More information of this day will come later.
Paul
Paul
Day 23 – arrived in Santiago de Compostela
Category Archives: cycle tour
Day 22 – to Airexe
93 km
The time I start the day is at 7:00 am. That is just before sunrise in the area I am. Because I slept at over 1000 m again, it was cold and I had breakfast in the tent.
As I left, the sun just started shining. The road was ascending further to over 1300 m and I was happy for my decision, not to cycle to the next albergue.
In a small village Liñares people were waiting for the church. I went inside and got the first stamp for today. Then further over a 1275 pass to the highest point for today at 1335 m, the Alto do Poio. People without luggage were astonished, that I managed those passes. In this high area I had splendid views over the valleys to higher mountains in all directions.
Then there was a long and fast descend to Samos. In this village is an enormous Monastery and church with external stairs like a palace. I had my lunch near some pilgrim sculptures.
The route to Sarria was descending, but in the town itself it went uphill again. I avoided the pilgrims footpath for the way up because I expected stairs on that way, but my alternate route was also very steep. From the point I reached the footpath in the center I wanted to go to the church that I missed. A landlord of a pub saw me going into the ‘wrong’ direction, and came out of the ub to tell me. Anyway, the church was closed. Now I continued in the correct direction, passed a castle and then arrived at the Mosteiro da Madalena with a nice front and a mosaic in front of the entrance. In the albergue of the monastery I got a nice stamp in my credential.
Now the pilgrims footpath and the cycle track were separated for a longer distance and the villages were less interesting, like Paradela.
On the bridge over an artificial lake both pilgrims routes joined again. From the bridge I had a nice view over the lake and the town with it’s church. The water level of the lake was not high and on the shores remainings of old buildings were visible.
After the pilgrims arrive at the bridge head beneath the town, they may ascend nice chairs to a small chapel. Now the cycle route started ascending again to Alto do Hospital and from there the pilgrims path for pedestrians and cyclists only. Because there are no campings here I started to look for an albergue, but they were full. In Airexe I asked if I could pitch my tent in the grass of the pilgrims picknick area – no problem. For theorice of a bed I might use the showers, bathroom etc. Instead of the bed the landlady gave me some postcards. And I am happy to sleep in my own tent.
Three Italians I had seen from time to time since Astorga and they saw me managing a very steep street in that town, said I must be a strong man and made a group photo with me. Btw they are travelling with nearly no luggage and are accompanied by there uncle in a camper.
Paul
The time I start the day is at 7:00 am. That is just before sunrise in the area I am. Because I slept at over 1000 m again, it was cold and I had breakfast in the tent.
As I left, the sun just started shining. The road was ascending further to over 1300 m and I was happy for my decision, not to cycle to the next albergue.
In a small village Liñares people were waiting for the church. I went inside and got the first stamp for today. Then further over a 1275 pass to the highest point for today at 1335 m, the Alto do Poio. People without luggage were astonished, that I managed those passes. In this high area I had splendid views over the valleys to higher mountains in all directions.
Then there was a long and fast descend to Samos. In this village is an enormous Monastery and church with external stairs like a palace. I had my lunch near some pilgrim sculptures.
The route to Sarria was descending, but in the town itself it went uphill again. I avoided the pilgrims footpath for the way up because I expected stairs on that way, but my alternate route was also very steep. From the point I reached the footpath in the center I wanted to go to the church that I missed. A landlord of a pub saw me going into the ‘wrong’ direction, and came out of the ub to tell me. Anyway, the church was closed. Now I continued in the correct direction, passed a castle and then arrived at the Mosteiro da Madalena with a nice front and a mosaic in front of the entrance. In the albergue of the monastery I got a nice stamp in my credential.
Now the pilgrims footpath and the cycle track were separated for a longer distance and the villages were less interesting, like Paradela.
On the bridge over an artificial lake both pilgrims routes joined again. From the bridge I had a nice view over the lake and the town with it’s church. The water level of the lake was not high and on the shores remainings of old buildings were visible.
After the pilgrims arrive at the bridge head beneath the town, they may ascend nice chairs to a small chapel. Now the cycle route started ascending again to Alto do Hospital and from there the pilgrims path for pedestrians and cyclists only. Because there are no campings here I started to look for an albergue, but they were full. In Airexe I asked if I could pitch my tent in the grass of the pilgrims picknick area – no problem. For theorice of a bed I might use the showers, bathroom etc. Instead of the bed the landlady gave me some postcards. And I am happy to sleep in my own tent.
Three Italians I had seen from time to time since Astorga and they saw me managing a very steep street in that town, said I must be a strong man and made a group photo with me. Btw they are travelling with nearly no luggage and are accompanied by there uncle in a camper.
Paul
Day 21 – to Pedrafia do Cebreiro
The camping was on 1000 m height and it was rather cool in the morning. The village Santa Colomba de Somoza looked different as the other Spanish villages I came through: Perfectly built, houses have closed balconies that hang over the streets – possibly due to the cold climate.
On the way back to the Camino I expected the road would descend, but instead there was a moderate climb until the tracks joined at La Posada de Gaspar. The road continued to climb an I had splendid views. I made some pictures until the camera didn’t focus anymore. The lens did mot move in ad an error message was on the display. I reset the camera, replaced the battery, helped a little with my fingers, but no result. The further pictures I took with the smart phone.
This happened on the highest pass on the way to Santiago de Compostela, 1490 m.
A Dutch couple from Zwolle was also on the pass and celebrated their efforts near the Cruz de Ferro at Te Puerto Foncebadon.
After the pass height a road normally goes downhill, but not here, after short descends the road was ascending again until nearly the pass height and this repeated multiple times. The first pilgrims village after the pass was El Acebo. And the Camino was full of albergues and cafés. After that the bad surfaced road was descending multiple kilometers until Molinaseca, where I had my lunch with a nice view on river an church.
In the rather big town Ponferrada I missed the most interesting parts, because I followed the sign to the historical center and did not have a deep look on my map. On my way through the newer parts of Ponferrada I was scanning the shops with my eyes, to find a camera shop and at the end I found one. There was not much choice and I bought a small Olympus. The senorita did not speak a word English and with my very basic 10 words of Spanish, we agreed that I could have a camera with a charged battery. She also was so friendly to send my damaged camera to my home address.
Now I was equipped with a working camera and I continued the tour. Villafranca del Bierzo had a large castle and three interesting churches spread over the town. From the bridge over the Rio Burbia I could see them all. Because it was Saturday, I wanted to buy some food for the weekend, but the mini Leclerc was closed until 17:00 h. I did not want to wait an hour, so I continued the ride through the valley of the Rio Valcarce with several small pilgrims villages. The road ascends with the river until the bicycle track and the pedestrians Camino split. Due to the split there weren’t pilgrims village on my part of the route. I speculated to find an albergue in Pedrafita, but the people on the street pointed to a next village. Because it was rather late, I choose for the option: Grass near the villages parking area. There are drinking water, toilets and even showers!
A Spanish guy also pitched his tent there.
On the way back to the Camino I expected the road would descend, but instead there was a moderate climb until the tracks joined at La Posada de Gaspar. The road continued to climb an I had splendid views. I made some pictures until the camera didn’t focus anymore. The lens did mot move in ad an error message was on the display. I reset the camera, replaced the battery, helped a little with my fingers, but no result. The further pictures I took with the smart phone.
This happened on the highest pass on the way to Santiago de Compostela, 1490 m.
A Dutch couple from Zwolle was also on the pass and celebrated their efforts near the Cruz de Ferro at Te Puerto Foncebadon.
After the pass height a road normally goes downhill, but not here, after short descends the road was ascending again until nearly the pass height and this repeated multiple times. The first pilgrims village after the pass was El Acebo. And the Camino was full of albergues and cafés. After that the bad surfaced road was descending multiple kilometers until Molinaseca, where I had my lunch with a nice view on river an church.
In the rather big town Ponferrada I missed the most interesting parts, because I followed the sign to the historical center and did not have a deep look on my map. On my way through the newer parts of Ponferrada I was scanning the shops with my eyes, to find a camera shop and at the end I found one. There was not much choice and I bought a small Olympus. The senorita did not speak a word English and with my very basic 10 words of Spanish, we agreed that I could have a camera with a charged battery. She also was so friendly to send my damaged camera to my home address.
Now I was equipped with a working camera and I continued the tour. Villafranca del Bierzo had a large castle and three interesting churches spread over the town. From the bridge over the Rio Burbia I could see them all. Because it was Saturday, I wanted to buy some food for the weekend, but the mini Leclerc was closed until 17:00 h. I did not want to wait an hour, so I continued the ride through the valley of the Rio Valcarce with several small pilgrims villages. The road ascends with the river until the bicycle track and the pedestrians Camino split. Due to the split there weren’t pilgrims village on my part of the route. I speculated to find an albergue in Pedrafita, but the people on the street pointed to a next village. Because it was rather late, I choose for the option: Grass near the villages parking area. There are drinking water, toilets and even showers!
A Spanish guy also pitched his tent there.