It was drizzling as we left Viña Femita so we donned our ponchos and hoped for the best.
This street from our hostal to the bridge actoss the river was being redone with sidewalks and new stones. We had to watch our step with the construction and an occasional puddle.Pilgrim statue on the right as we walk over the Rio Burbia.Picturesque homes hanging on the edge of the mountain along the Rio Burbiaonce across the river, the road began to climb out of VillafrancaThe Valvarce River was on our left and flowing into the Rio Burbia.Another pretty riverside home reached out to Jim as we headed upward into the gap between the mountainsmountains ahead of us… thank goodness we walk through the gap not over the top. There is an alternate path that veered right as we left town that climbs up to the top and looks down on “our” gap, but we didn’t even consider it… different strokes for different folks.the sidewalk on the right completed during or after the pandemic made the walk safer to halfway up the hill. Today, it had been completed all the way to the junction of A-6. A nice improvement and safer for pilgrims.the path “new” endingthe junction with A-6 and the beginning of the road through the mountain gap with crash barriers to keep pilgrims from bumping into vehicles.This was the look of today’s walk 90% of the way.Look familiar?A-6 crossing over us, surprisingly quietWe had a slight relief from the crash-barrier road walk through Pereje, but it was more depressing than anything else.This used to be a nice breakfast stop in ” main street”. The bar is on the left with Spanish flags and a nice terrace with customer spillover tucked on the right. Unfortunately it’s never been open since 2019. Possibly a victim of the pandemic, it has a “cerrado” sign on the bar door with no further explanation and the terrace has a mean looking chain blocking its use by walkers-by.More walking in the gap
We got to the turnoff for Trabadelo after 5.5 miles. It had started raining more seriously a few minutes before, but our ponchos were still handy. We arrived Nova Ruta as the rain began to taper off, entered the Hotel Rural bar and had breakfast.
We checked in around 11:45, but our hotel restaurant was going to close at noon for the rest of the day. This was a disappointment because during our previous three visits, we have enjoyed their meals which featured local dishes.
While waiting for our room to be ready, Jim discovered a bottle of wine from one of the small vineyards we walked through yesterday, among others on a shelf in the bar and purchased it.
We got lunch/dinner at a nearby albergue and returned to our Hotel. We purposely had water with our meal, so we could sip the Bierzo wine throughout the afternoon… sharing a glass with the grateful hotel owner, who was still hanging around, waiting for a late arriving guest.
Our Bierzo wine was enjoyed by all.
Rain showers continued off and on all afternoon and evening while we completed our chores and prepped for tomorrow’s walk… probably also in the rain.
Jimandi 