Day 23 - El Acebo to Ponferrada

We left El Acebo after a lovely breakfast including cereal for the first time. It was cool and overcast. The path quickly became rocky and challenging. It is easy here to twist or sprain an ankle which would possibly put an end to this year's Camino. 

We limped into Molinaseca looking for the Farmacia.  Ada found the Dr Scholls gel heel cups and a metres worth of bandages. Pat found Immodium  "quick" . 

We had breakfast and bought supplies. We watched the Municipal worker refurbishing the dam doors which hold back the river for the community swimming pool.

The local Mercado featured their fruits on a turning record turntable. Great use if you are no longer playing LPs. 

We left Molinaseca with a limited number of yellow arrows, but the sun baked on and we felt that we had done an unnecessary side trip to Campo. It was 90 + degrees when we crawled into Ponferrrada. We were worried about sunstroke so Pat was carrying an extra 2 litres of water.  There are reminders along the way!

The Alberge, San Nicolas de Flue was not far from the Castillo de Los Templarios.  

We showered and laundered and headed to tour the Templar Castle. The Storm, thunder and lightning, rather vicious made us hunker down in the castle.  

We really were blessed that the storm hit after we were stopped for the evening. 

We were also blessed that we arrived at the Albergue and got bunks in the four to a room, rather than 100 in the overflow in the basement. This hostel has room for 174 pilgrims in 10 rooms.