Days Twenty-four and Twenty-five - Astrorga to Foncebadon to Ponferrada - 57km altogether!

We really did stay in the middle of no-where last night so today we are posting two days of photos together due to lack of wifi (and virtually anything else) in Foncebadon.

Yesterday we climbed up one side of a mountain and today we climbed down the other side! Just after leaving this morning we reached the high point of the Camino, Cruz de Ferro. We each placed a small stone (as folks have done for over a century) to remind us of loved ones past and present.

The weather has been amazing but the afternoon temperatures have been so high that we have actually been leaving to start walking at 7.00am - I know crazy! Today when we arrived in Ponferrada it was 31 degrees (88 in US terms) -IN THE SHADE!!!!!!!

Both days were really challenging but also a great adventure. Tonight in Ponferrada our room has a bath tub and it will be getting liberal use.

Our first stop of the day and the lady made us fresh fruit and
vegetable juice and an avocado and salad sandwich.

Off we go then!

Of course there's a cowboy bar - we went in an Elvis bar the other day!

I think the thatch needs re-doing!

walking through a forest of holm oaks

There are lots of dogs and they are all so relaxed and friendly!

There are lots of memorials to people who never quite made 
it to Santiago and died on the way! 
On the way down the mountain we probably saw 
about 10 memorials, a lot of them on memory of cyclists.

So we finished the Roman road - now it's just a stony road!

Our home for tonight - Foncebadon.

The albergue where we stayed, a converted convent apparently.

Foncebadon was a thriving community in the 12th Century,
however, a few years ago there were only 2 people living here.
Now there are just 3 albergues and a lot of sad houses. 
It makes Rose Bay seem like Las Vegas

A view of the sunrise from our room.

As we left the village at 7.00 we saw these goats climbing over the ruins.
They were all wearing 'cow' bells.

We reached Cruz de Ferro after just over a 2km climb.
It is the highest point in our journey at 1505m, 4940ft.

It is a significant milestone on our journey.
It is believed that people have put stones here since Celtic times.

You are meant to bring a stone with you from your home.
Unfortunately mine must have fallen from my bag so
I found two more while we have been walking.

Gary managed to get his stone here all the way from Rose Bay.
So now our stones are sitting with all the others.

And, of course there was a geocache nearby!

On the way down the mountain we walked through this pretty village.

It was great to reach the village at the bottom and
 to cross the Roman bridge to a cafe and a cold drink!

The final 6km into Ponferrada was really hard work.
The sun was blazing down, there was no shade and the road went on
and on and on and on and ...
and I didn't take any pictures because I was too tired!