Day 41 – to San Martín de Moreda

Roja spends the first hours of the morning watching life go by at the aire at Villafranca.

It’s an attractive place to stay, which, as usual, the community provide and maintain. It’s a five minute walk to town, and late in the evening, and late-ish morning the locals take their exercise and walk their dogs.

Three rented motorhomes from León had been here last night, families with children. It still is possible for occupants of motorhomes to make noise, in this regard, and almost continual opening and slamming of doors, and shouting between the vans. Fortunately it was raining this morning and they left early.

An English couple pulled in shortly after, and came over to say hello. They had sold up their house in Nottingham, were now retired, and lived in their van on the road. The 90 day Schengen limitation has had a major effect on them, as they now need to travel outside the EU for 90 day blocks in between. They were currently heading for the Balkans for that very reason.

I told them of the extensions granted by Sweden and Denmark, which I was surprised they didn’t know about. They do think it is something they will use, especially once the electronic system comes into play, though we believe that has been delayed another year.

I drove back into the mountains, to the north, the Ancares Natural Park, around the river of that name. I am just inside the park, at San Martín de Moreda. There is a picnic area near a swimming pool, and it has a 4G signal, as following a walk, I watched the European Rugby.

Here is at 620 metres asl. Above is a tiny village sat at 750 called Moredo. It is famous for Moredo Rock, a music festival, something like Kendal Calling, though it hasn’t happened since the pandemic. When it did happen, it attracted several thousand people somewhat surprisingly, as well as some of the top Spanish rock musicians.