Day 20 - part two - Finally in Villafranca del Bierzo

Ok, so the day started out well then got worse due to most of the blood falling out of my left leg! Well then it got better again as I completed the downhill section from Cruz de Ferro to Molinaseca, a descent from 1505 metres to 600 metres in a length of about 10 km. I'm glad I was going down, not up!
Molinaseca is a beautiful village but it was still very early and I had already started between stages so I wanted to walk on to at least Ponferrada which is a big city (pop 62,000). The only good thing here was the huge 12th century Castillo de Templarios (Knight's Templar Castle) and a few other impressive buildings. Otherwise it is industrial and new. ....so I walked on.

This may have been a mistake as it got very hot with no shade. Due to the heat and my exertion the rest of the blood in my left leg fell out! (stop laughing, it's not funny).

Anyway, this very nice chap saw I was a bit flustered and decided to take me to the nearest hospital to get sorted. I tried to insist that is was a minor flesh wound and I still had the other leg to drag myself towards Santiago but he was having none of it. So I had a lift in a nice air-conditioned Mercedes to the medical centre at Villafranca del Bierzo which is the end of the next stage and where he lives. The lovely people made a fuss of me and cleaned me up, put a couple of sutures in and took my blood pressure as I showed them my prescription. They said my blood pressure was healthy (which is unusual for me? probably due to only half as much blood as usual or all this walking is good for me)

 
So, the good news is I am fine again, I am at a smashing hostel and got the last private room due to a late cancellation. I have a balcony with a view of the waterfall by the river and they saw my bandage and gave me a special rate, washed my clothes and said I can leave when I want tomorrow. Result!
The bad news is that I feel guilty for getting a lift for about 10 kms.
Do you think I should go back to where I stopped and carry on from there? ....Bugger off, I am stupid but I am not daft.
I will perform some reciprocal acts of unconditional kindness over the next few days to balance it all out.

I have been humbled by the kindness shown to me by complete strangers, many of whom have little to give but a smile and a helping hand.
I am very lucky.

So, as the hot Spanish sun starts to cool in the shade of the cathedral; and the stumbling pilgrim sets off to find where he will eat for the evening; it is time to say "adios" for another day.

Some pictures of....
Some more dead boots.
Some fine buildings in Molinaseca and Ponferrada.
A pilgrim statue.
A carving on a tree that looks like Steve Nightingale when he used to have a moustache.
The place where I am now by the river (Albergue de la Piedra) and the view from my balcony.

PS they also gave me an injection because my thumb still looks a bit manky (technical Spanish term)