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day
4 - Ponferrada to Las Herreiras - about 40km - about 5
star
About 10 km
out of Ponferada is the town of Cacabelos. Heading into
town, we pass by convoys of tractors pulling trailers full
of grapes. At one of the grape cooperatives, we see them
line up to dump their loads. At the town center is a statue
honoring the grape pickers
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On the hills
out of Cacabelos, we all stop thinking we all have flats.
Your tires start to drag and hear the strangest noise from
your tire. It's like rubber peeling off a glue patch. It is
the grape juice!! The trailers full of grapes leak grape
juice on the road shoulders. The juice dries making the road
super sticky. Next time you pass Cacbelos, remember it's not
a FLAT, it's the JUICE!
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Villafranca
is the next major town and a good stop for some coffee. The
temperature is cold in the mornings and a hot drink is
welcome to warm you up. Don't forget to try their extra
thick hot coco.
Our good
friend Sir George rides with us to this point and turns back
for Ponferada to attend to our friend.
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There is a
big construction boom in this area. Newer and wider highways
are being built. Past Villafranca, the road takes you to the
busy and new hwy N-VI. Follow the signs and the yellow
arrows leads you to the old hwy N-VI, which is quieter and
nicer. The paved road is the new hwy while the dirt road
veering to the right is the old local road.
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This
stretch is one of the nicer parts of the route as you ride
pass the foothills, flowing streams and cowherds. At a town
called Herreiras, we stop off at a fancy restaurant/hotel
full of people eating lunch. This stop is supposedly only a
restroom stop, but we decide to inquire about the rooms. To
our surprise, it is a new place opened a few months ago with
double rooms costing only 5000 ptas.
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Already
3:00 PM and with the prospect of an extremely hilly ride to
O'Cebreiro, everyone decides to cut the day short and enjoy
our stay at Paraiso (paradise) del Bierzo. Indeed it is
paradise! Located in a valley, we have a nice view of the
mountains, a stream, cattle and grazing land right beside
the hotel. We'll worry about the climb tomorrow.
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The
ride from Ponferada to O'cebreiro is rated 7 stars. Since we
are cutting it short and leaving the steepest climb for
tomorrow, we are rating today's ride (Ponferada to
Herreiras) about a 5 star.
Day
3
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Day
5
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