Camino de Santiago – Day 4 – Foncebadón to Ponferrada!

Hola, peregrinos and peregrinas! Day 4 is completo! We are in Ponferrada.

We left the wonderful El Trasgu de Foncebadón at 7:02am. It was a longer day, and we knew we were going to stop for a spell at Cruz de Ferro.

Michael, placing his rock at the foot of the cross at Cruz de Ferro.

We got there as the sun was rising. It was beautiful.

This Camino, I am dedicating to the person who first introduced me to the Camino de Santiago. Sue Kenney, also known as Barefoot Sue. She is a force to be reckoned with. Sue has walked 29 Caminos! And for quite a few of those Caminos she led groups of peregrinos/peregrinas. She gifted me with the Camino de Santiago back in 2009 or 2010. It was so long ago, I don’t remember the exact year.

My first Camino was with Sue leading the way… from Ponferrada to Santiago de Compostela. It was in May, 2014. There were 8 of us…all wonderful people. Sadly, we lost one of our tribe the following year. CLICK THIS LINK TO READ MORE ABOUT CONNIE.

This Camino, because I sincerely cannot thank her enough, is dedicated to Sue… who I have been calling Captain, my Captain since our walk together. I hope it doesn’t drive her crazy. It is one of my favourite poems… So I see it as a way of honouring her.

Anyway, some pics, right?! The Camino provided so much beauty today it was hard to take it all in. Vast open spaces, mountains to the left of us almost all the way! It’s funny how the mountain views are there all along, but you’re walking on such treacherous ground you’re forced to look down. Funny–cruel, not funny–haha.

The first picture, I had to point my camera down. We were above the clouds. Yes, I know we are crazy privileged to be here. I thanked the universe all the way, even through my pain. This day was hard… extremely hard. But it was made a bit harder realizing how extremely lucky I am to be here. It’s breathtaking and I’m so privileged, it’s crazy!

We made it to Ponferrada around 3pm, give or take. But first, there was El Acebo and Molinaseca.

La Rosa del Agua was the cafe we stopped in at El Acebo. I’d go back for the limón cake alone! YUM!

In Molinaseca, we stopped at Taberna Señor Pepe. But only for a delicious Aquarius!

After Molinaseca, it was the last great haul to Ponferrada. It’s a lot!!! The hardest part of the day is usually the last km or two. From Foncebadón to Ponferrada, it’s the last 5km. Trust me on this one.

But we’re here. And we’re ready to head for Villafranca del Bierzo tomorrow. Last time we walked through that town, there was a festival and we got to watch a mariachi band… so much fun! Fingers crossed something fun happens tomorrow too!

Oh! Pics of Ponferrada. Did you know there’s a Templars Castle here?! Los Templarios Castle. It’s magic.

That’s enough for today. We’re about to crash! Onward to Villafranca del Bierzo tomorrow!!! It’s going by so fast.

Oh, our stop for supper tonight. Just across the street from the castle. Godivah. We had hamburgers, cerveza, cheese fries, and guacamole nachos. So good! We did not take food pics. We sat on the patio, but here’s some interior pics. It’s a wild and crazy place… and they play THE best music! You should check it out.