Outeiro de Rai on to Molinaseca just passed Ponferrada (136km)

 Following our beautiful Sunday morning bike ride, we packed up and headed on to Molinaseca.  Pretty much sticking to the A6 all the way. This route took us out of Galicia and into Castilla Y Leon, and as we left Galicia behind the landscape opened up to make an altogether more interesting journey. We drove over Viaduct after viaduct and through the odd tunnel allowing us through this dramatic landscape without all the ups and downs that would otherwise have been involved.

Agriculture started to dominate forestry as we came off the mountain roads with the return of vineyards and orchards. Field upon fields of espalier pears tied up to wired supports  and straining with fruit. My photos from the moving vehicle can not do the views justice.

As we approached Molinaseca we passed a sign saying no vehicles over 3m high or longer than 9m. We knew we were 2.95m without the satellite dish and 7.8m long plus a meter long bike rack. We kept our fingers crossed, but did not come across any bridge or obstacle to cause concern before we turned into the car park in this picturesque village along the Camino de Santiago. Our next Aire for the night. The car park was rammed with motorhomes and cars so we had to pull over to wait for space whilst eating some lunch. I finally did my invoicing and by the time I had finished both the cars next to us had left so we moved over into the 2 spaces. Now our vehicle was almost legally parked we could take a look round this seemingly very busy village. It was charming and had cleverly made use of the beautiful crystal clear river running through it to make a kind of municipal pool with steps in and out and beautifully mowed edges for people to sunbath on. We realised being a stopping point on the Camino de Santiago was not its only attraction.

 

 

We found a lovely Spanish restaurant to have supper at and I had a delicious peace of Hake and the boys had Entrecote steak, Chris's with Foie Gras 😋

Following our usual breakfast routine:

We found a walking route along another part of the Camino de Santiago along a rocky mountain path that has been well trodden by pilgrims for hundreds of years, and has remained unchanged throughout that time. There was a magical light following the heavy rain we had had during the night, and the pale lichen frosting the trees gave an ethereal quality to our route.

 

 

 

 

 

 the river water was so clear