May 4-5. Fonce/Ponferade/Pereje.
From Fonce to Pomferade was mostly a very challenging downhill stressing Joan's knee and my left lower leg tendonitis. We are both taking 4-6 ibuprofens a day plus topical ibu gel which they sell in all the pharmacies along the camino. We are also going to purchase better knee braces for both her knees.
When young as a gymnast Joan fell braking her femur. Just a short time after the cast came off, by then a swimmer, she jumped into the pool and broke it again. The knee has always been a concern when carrying things. Especially downhill.
The choice you have to make from approaching Rabanal all the way to Ponferada is do I take the diversional trails from the road or stick to the road. Not knowing which trails are very rocky and rutted, you have to walk in a way to make your decision. If you look carefully at the map of our track, we mostly walked the road. On the map the camino is marked as a dotted trail. We chose to walk the road instead of taking the final diversion into Molinaseca. What a mistake that was. The Brierley guide shows the road the same length as the diversion. It turned out to be at least twice as long. We didn't have much more to give upon reaching the albergue.
Pereje was our next days objective. We were first to arrive to find the albergue shut tight. We worried we would have to walk to the next town. So we inquire at the towns bar. The hostess grabed a key and ushered us into the albergue. The joyous felling of a hot shower officially ended the day. Tomorrow over the top of O'Cebreiro and on to Hospital de la Condesa.
Stu
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