Our day started out in the dark as we left our Albergue to head towards VillaFranca. The path took us along part of the World Cycling Course around the edge of the castle and up and out of Ponferrada. It had rained the night before and it threatened to rain again during the day, we put on our ponchos at one stage but it never got very heavy. We followed the path through a couple of rural villages and we couldn’t help but notice the abundance and size of the fruits, vegetables and dogs.
Big pumpkins
We saw more storks nests, some not as high up others, but they are huge.
We followed the camino signs as usual, but some how ended up on an alternative Camino Trail that took us through a number of rural villages that we were not supposed to go through and we thought we were lost.
We eventually found our way to Cacebalos, on the correct path again. We stumbled across the town square were they were cooking Octopus Galician style, so we sat down at a table and ordered some. Absolutely delicious, washed down with a bottle vino Tinto.
Galician Octopus
Also we think Cacebalos is where one of the scenes from The Way was shot, Plaza Mayor has a Bar on side of the Plaza and a Police Station on the other side and it looks like the spot where Martin Sheen got drunk, picked a fight, and got arrested.
We made it to Villafrance just in time, as the thunder started and the heavens opened.
Walking around Villfranca later,we think we found a place were part of the movie The Way was filmed. Where the Gypsies walked with them to the edge of town and returned Martin Sheens back pack.
Russ and Jan's Camino 