Rabanal del Camino to Molinaseca

Left our casa rural about 8:30 am where they served us a nice breakfast. Left town and headed to Molinaseca which was about 16 miles away but requires to climb up another couple thousand feet (to the highest point on the Camino) and then down the other side. About 1 1/2 in we came to Cruz de Ferro (the Iron Cross) where Ben left his rocks. We walked another 30 minutes to Manjarin which is nothing more than a very rustic Alburgue which has no electricity or water. You use an open pit for your bathroom. Very unique to say the least. After Manjarin you start back the mountain. In the posted photos you will see a big city named Ponferrada which we will go through tomorrow morning. We also kept coming across a group of Chineese who appeared to be making a film on the Camino. We (or should I say "I") finally got into Molinaseca at about 4:30....Ben was about 40 minutes ahead since he can go down a lot quicker. The town is really nice and on a small river where the towns people swim. The whole area around the bridge is like the beach area where everybody swims and sunbathes. We are staying at the Hostal "The Way" run by a guy who has done the Camino 27 times. We walked with a guy this morning named Eddy Murphy from Britain who has walked the Camino 8 times. Not all the Camino Francis....he has done the southern and northern routes to Santiago. This time he flew to Leon and is walking to Santiago because he wanted to do the Meseta! Once he gets to Santiago, he is going to get a train and go back to Pamplona and walk all the way back to Sarria. Weird. The guy is 61 years old and can book. He said we averages 30 miles a day and sometimes can go 40 miles. I know I was having a hard time to keep up with him and I could tell he was holding back for me. He was a wealth of knowledge on the Camino. Eventually he gave up with me and walked with Ben because he was quicker. I have a hard time going up and going down which was all day today. Needless to say I am exhausted tonight.