Week One. Leon-Villafranca del Bierzo June 23-28 aprox 140 Km's

Day 1: Leon to Villar de Mazarife 22 km's +or-

Departed Hotel Conde Luna 0830 on the morning of Saturday June 23 for the 22 Km trek to Villar de Mazarife, destination for our first night.

This route is an alternative from La Virgen del Camino, the first outlaying township 8.5 Km's from Leon, avoiding the route which follows the highway. The countryside to Mazarife is open and scenic with only three small villages along the way.

The first step of so many to follow. Let the pictures do the walking:

Off we go following the arrows and shells along the way

Leon Cathedral

Hotel Parador de Leon as seen in 'The Way'with Martin Sheen

Peregrino Statue, San Marcos Leon, on the Camino path.

Crossing the Rio Bernesga, Leon.

Following the arrows.

Just like home. From here we leave the 'burbs' for the countryside.

Our first village.

Peregrino Ngaire.

Siesta time.

Villar de Mazarife- hostal Tio Pepe.

Day 2: Villar de Mazarife to San Justo 29 K's

Departing Mazarife Sunday June 24 after a great night with other peregrinos and our hosts. Long day ahead to get some K's up. The countryside similar all the way through to our destination with a special bridge to be crossed over the Rio Orbigo at a town called Hospital de Orbigo about halfway to San Justo.

Channel irrigation.

Silhouette in the morning light.

Wild growing 'poppies'.

Crossing over Rio Orbigo on one of the longest and best preserved medieval bridges in Spain dating back to the 13th Century and built over an earlier Roman bridge. The bridge is accessed from Puente de Orbigo and enters on the other side into Hospital de Orbigo which dates back to the 12th Century.

The owner of the bar/cafe proudly displaying his collection of 'Aussie' paraphernalia which I readily contributed to.

A little oasis made possible by the generosity of a Camino legend named David. Gave us much needed relief towards the end of a mid 30's(c) deg day.

Ngaire at near days end.

Outskirts of San Justo

Our destination.

Day 3:San Justo to El Ganso 20 Km's

Catch up night with some we had met on day 1, but not a late night as all feeling pretty tired.

Up reasonably early Monday June 25 for our day of a reasonable climb of just over a 1000m to El Ganso in 30 deg + heat.

Catch up

First up for the day is negotiating our way through Astorga, a large regional centre with a Roman tradition with the original town encircled within the parameters of it's medieval walls. Astorga is perched on a steep slope rising up over 800 mts and being a major crossroad the town was of strategical importance over the centuries. Like the rest of Spain, many variants are apparent in both socio-economic, political and ideological contradictions. Making our way through the ancient and historical features of the city we come across the 'tag' of the UJCE, the youth wing of the Spanish Communist Party. The struggle continues.

Our destination and accommodation at El Ganso.

Day 4: El Ganso to Acebo 24 Km's

An early start was the order of the day on Tuesday June 26. Although the distance was average, the days climbing ahead to Alto Alta, the highest point of the day of 1515 mt in hot weather was to present challenges one would expect under these conditions .

Section of the path about a kilometre long with a make shift fence covered with hand made wooden crosses, placed by peregrinos as remembrance for the deceased.

Well earn't rest.

Topping up with fresh water from the village water point.

More wild flowers .

Grab a break where and when you can.

Manjarin: site of Christian fundamentalists.

Rugged going up and down.

El Acebo, end of a hard day.

Day 5: Acebo to Camponraya 30+Kms

Leaving Acebo in early morning mist and fog we had a decision to make as to our route to Camponaraya. The steep rocky decent experienced the day before presented serious hazards and a risk of a fall that could have resulted in a serious injury. The off road path down the mountain from Acebo was even more treacherous and although shorter with a distance of 24 Kms would take longer than the road route for the descent taking 30+ Kms. We had no hesitation taking the road route down the mountain but suffered with the long distance in hot and humid conditions. Arriving safely was the bonus.

Ngaire with Kylie, an Aussie from NSW walking on her own who we have tagged with on and off for the past 4 days.

Safely down the mountain.

Waiting at the bottom of the mountain the beautiful village of Molinaseca, all worth it.

Magnificent Wisteria, small world.

From Molinaseca to Ponferrada. Much to Ngaire's delight, a city with a castle!

Our destination at last.

Day 6 : Componaraya to Villafranca del Briezo 15 Km's.

Day 6 was pretty special for two reasons. Only 15 Km's and our first 2 night break. An easy and enjoyable day with beautiful scenery and some eventful stops before entering the magical town of Villafranca del Bierzo.

The Spaniards love their hanging baskets.

Wine country.

Relaxing with Jitka, a Czech who we met earlier along the way and caught up with at a little cafe just out of Villafranca del Bierzo. We sat listening to the magical voice of Gummural with Australian Indigenous artifacts on the wall in what can only be described as a totally surreal atmosphere.