Hi Joe,
Yes I'm on the Invierno. Started from Ponferada yesterday and stopped in
Puente Domingo. I stayed at the Hostal La Torre for the special pilgrim price of €18 as opposed to booking.com €34 for the same room. Today I'm at the Alburgue in A`rua €15 which includes breakfast and I'm in a single room, result.
Astorga was a bit of a shock, so many people. I stayed in the Municipal Alburgue, it was pretty full and with 146 beds it was a little noisy. On the following day I stopped in Rabanal at Gaucelmo Alburgue which is a donativo that provides afternoon tea and breakfast. It's my third visit here and I always leave a good donation. Then it was on to Ponferada and a room of my own for two days.
The walk up from Rabanal to Cruz de ferro and down to Molenesqu is one of my favorite parts of the Frances way, especially when sunny with clear skies. I only spent two days on the Frances way it was enough for me.