This is something I posted to the Friends of Dragonte Facebook page and wanted to share it here with Forum members:
"Wanting to beat the heat with a forecast high of 31 degrees, it was 6:50 in the morning of 18 June when we set off from Albergue Leo in Villafranca del Bierzo to walk the Dragonte route. We were a group of three: two Canadians (living in Barcelona) and an Australian. First stop was at the hikers' hut in Moral de Valcarce to sign into the log book. The hut was equipped with a few basic supplies, a table and chair and the log book, and it would have made a refuge for pilgrims had the weather not allowed us to carry on. We were well prepared physically for the trek, already having walked along the Camino Catalan from Barcelona, and the Aragones route before joining the Frances Camino in Obanos. The walk along the Dragonte route did not disappoint: the excellent way markings ensured that we could easily stay on the trail without misadventures while enjoying the spectacular scenery and peacefulness offered by this little-used original Camino route. Water was easily found in almost all of the villages we passed through. We did not need to search for food as our packs were filled with plenty of supplies for the day. Our foodstuffs included some purchases made the day before in Villafraca del Bierzo in the shop in Plaza Mayor. Coincidentally, the shop owner, Lenora, greeted us warmly when we told her of our plans to walk the Dragonte the following day, telling us that her parents and dog live in the first house we would come to upon entering the village of Moral de Valcarce. As requested by Lenora, we paused along the way to knock at the door of said house in order to send greetings but there was no one home to receive us.
The only slight bit of uncertainty during our journey happened toward the end as we approached the quarry and were uncertain of which way to go. It was eight hours after we started that we reached our endpoint in Las Herrerias with thoughts of cold beer first and foremost in our minds. We send our thanks to Maria and her mother Mercedes for their hospitality at the lovely Albergue Leo in Villafranca del Bierzo, the group responsible for the clear signage along the Drangonte, members of this Facebook group for sharing updates about the route, and those who bulldozed a wide swath down the last descent into Las Herrerias from the radio mast atop the final peak. Note: a few sections of the trail between San Fiz do Seo and Villasinde were somewhat overgrown, leaving one the unenviable choice between brushing up against brambles or stinging nettles. Also, be prepared for fresh cow patties in the last half of the final descent."
