Day 29 – to Collado del Modrano (above Vadillo Castril)

It was one day too many at the campsite at Coto Rios. The Friday had been quite quiet but the Saturday certainly wasn’t.

So it was with some enthusiasm I moved away seeking some peace on the higher roads and tracks. I found it on the small road up to a Refugio and Hotel above the village of Vadillo Castril. Such places aren’t difficult to find, most people hanker after a tourist infrastructure of cafes and noise; up at 1350 metres, I saw or heard no one except for a few deer, a persistent woodpecker, and a wild boar with what sounded like nasal difficulties.

There was some rain in the forecast, but at 4 pm for about 5 hours it rained heavily. Soon after the sun is obscured the temperature drops quickly at this time of year, down to 8C when the clouds cleared later in the night. I really enjoyed the change of weather.

The last picture is of the Refugio, usually used by hikers and bikers on the GR247, but currently still closed due to the pandemic.

I read a lot and consider myself quite a competent reviewer these days, after so many years of trying.. but the same cannot be said for choosing and reviewing films. It’s something I’ve tried to improve on, taking recommendations, reading review sites, and trying to match the right film with the mood; I was finding I was falling asleep at anything over 90 minutes. It’s usually Saturday and Sunday nights I make the effort, and chose well this week, with The Courier and Identifying Features. The former, I expected to be good, and it was, 7/10 for me. But the latter, a Mexican film seemingly about illegal crossing of the US border was very good. It’s far more than what it’s summarised as, about mothers and sons, with a good twist at the end. It has a dash of horror involved as well, and needs deconstructing for many hours after it’s finished.