Day 30 – Ponferrada to Villafranca Del Biezo

June 5th – Today will be warm so I leave wearing a short sleeved t-shirt and shorts.  I loved my visit to Pongerrafa with all its rich Templar, pilgrim history and castles.  There will be many small villages on today’s 15 mile walk so I leave without breakfast knowing I can get my coffee and something to eat along with a break somewhere along the way which turns out to be the first village, Columbrianos.

It’s Sunday morning and many of the locals are out running and biking which I enjoy – making me feel like I am a part of the culture.

At Fuentes Nuevas the road bends to the right but I see a very small church on my left.  Stopping to investigate I see iron doors to look through.  As I am peering in, a very small and old woman appears, opens the gates and waves me in.  It is s very quaint small chapel.  As I look around I see a woman’s photo on the wall and looking at this small woman in front of me I can see they are one and the same.  I motion to it and say, “You?” To which she nods. In sign language I ask if I can take her picture.  She nods and positions herself by the candles.  So sweet a greeting on this Sunday morning!

Camponaraya and Cacabelos come up before I know it.  The path is sometimes the country road and sometimes a dirt path but always with vineyards and farmland set against the backdrop of mountains.

I see another of the rough crafted sign that is calling out the distance to Santiago – 194.5k – a reminder that my time on the Camino is coming to a close.  In addition to vineyards there are more and more cherry trees with tempting fruit.

This is also a region for roses.  Each house had at least one rose bush and often there are so many that there perfume catches me as I walk by.  They are even growing by the side of the road with the vineyards.

The final few miles into Villafranca is through mile after mile of vineyards that often now include full orchards of cherry trees which you can see in this short video clip.

I arrive in Villafranca amidst the run portion and end of a triathlon.  Yesterday in Ponferrada there was quite a celebration around an 84k run that was taking place.  This is the weekend for athletic challenges in the region.  I walk towards the end where runners are coming to the finish line where there is quite a crowd.  I find one family with a Yorkie where I get my doggie fix and then wander through beautiful gardens where the gravel path reminds me of the Camino.  I then spy a Yorkie puppie and the young couple who is holding him hand him to me for a cuddle.

The pop music is playing loudly at the finish line when the words of the current song sink in:  “Love is in the air, Everwhere I look around…”   And it is!