Day 3(20): Astorga to Foncebadón

This morning was cold. Because Dusty and I were staying with the monks, we had to be out by 08:00.

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It was very dark!

We left at 07:44 and found a café for breakfast about 1 km outside town. I had the most fabulous tomato toast with cheese — the tomatoes were home-grown, and the owner told me it was the last of them for the season.

We left Astorga behind and the Meseta too, climbing gradually into the Montes de León. It was a slow, gentle ascent.

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At 10 km we stopped for coffee,

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At 18 km we stopped for lunch.

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Fab lunch here of crab tapas
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The path got stonier as we got higher

We arrived in Foncebadón at 14:30.

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Alberge for the night
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Beers in the patio in the sun
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The view from the top back over the Meseta and Leon

There I met another Damian — Damian McCann from Derry — which was very strange! We had a few beers, ate the communal meal, and then went to bed.

Stats

Today

Distance: 25.98 km

Elevation: 610m

Duration: 5h51

 

Totals

Distance: 81.78(556.31) Km

Elevation: 1,120(9,138) m

Duration: 16h53(119h11)

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Off to Ponferrada today 26.8 km down hill, steep at times