Neil: Dawn breaks with good English drizzle! It was a long drag through industrial roads to finally leave Ponferrada. As we get closer to S de C we see more and more walkers. While peddling along we pass them. They all wear ponchos which protects their rucksacks but i am not sure I would wish to wear one as I’m sure you must get sweaty in one. This really is the most international of Pilgramages. Most people are solo or in twos usually a couple. As cyclists we pass the walkers regularly. Sometimes we say ‘Buen Camino ‘ it’s a sort of hello really. Lots of films about the Camino. We watched ’ Paths of Life ‘ last night . A lovely film about a French girl walking from Strasbourg to S de C. She introduced herself to walkers and interviewed some. They all had a similar feeling about wanting to switch off from modern life and enjoy the isolation but also the friendship that abounds on the Camino. 

      As a brief list we have met , French, Irish , Icelanders, Americans ( lots), Canadians , Spanish, Germans, South Koreans, Brazilians , Colombians, Australians , New Zealanders, South Africans, Polish, Chinese, Italian and of course a few Uk too . 

        Today’s ride highlights would be all Ceri really. She was in the sort of condition as we started that I could easily have given her a week sick note in GP land ! I can only say chapeau a plenty too her. She has plenty of pluck to undertake the ride at all and still not eating. Rain hail wind and hills were the recipe today . Although when the sun came out a bit I managed a little tipple of Vino Tinto . We have risen a couple of hundred metres . A big long hill tomorrow. Hopefully everything will have dried out then