Day 8 – Villafranca del Bierzo to Las Herrerias

We started a little late out of Bierzo to Las Herrerias because we were cutting the next stage short just before a climb. Las Herrerias is a village of just 32 habitantes and 4 bars! I would think just one would suffice. No wifi, and the first time with cell service. Our albergue was run by a 30 year old Chicagoan, to our surprise, and his Spanish wife. This leg to Herrerias was also the second time I saw the backpack transporters – by horse drawn carriage. If I ever do this walk again, I will take advantage of the backpack transport. We have been making our way into the mountains, and passed a bit of a logging area along the way. We stopped across from the stacks of logs for a snack, and had a little visit from the cutest kitten. I also took some time to dip my feet in a bit of a stream. The water was ICE COLD. The yellow gate marks the entrance to Las Herrerias and the hostel is in the second to last shot, and our dinner location was Casa Polin. This was a great stop where we met many other pilgrims – most who had walked all the way from the Pyrenees – and a true hostel with lots of bunk beds in a large room for the night.