Day 41 -Hospital de Orbigo to Ponferrada. 48 miles

Cycled through Astorga, saw the outside of Gaudie's Bishops' Palace and took photos, but sadly it was too early to go round. Then great cycle ride over hills again. Through the Mounts de Leon and over the summit at Cruz de Ferro at 1517 meters. The inhabitants of the small villages along the way are known as Margatans and used to be the muleteers of Spain. I managed to cycle to the top without having to push the bike, passing other cyclists. Apparently I am now recognised because I am cycling on my own and had to have my photo taken with various groups at the top. However...... pride comes before a fall!    I was so terrified by the steep descent that I ended up in places pushing the bike (or sometimes simply stopping my bike falling down) and those very people kept offering me help as they thought there must be something wrong with the bike. To justify myself, the grip in my left hand is now limited as 6 weeks of clutching breaks and moving gears has given me a kind of repetive strain injury!  Now staying in larger town-refuge donations only. Vines growing on hillsides again, castle of the Knights' Templar dominating the town.