Day 63 – to Posada de Valdeón

It’s noticeable how after just a couple of days in these Cantabrian villages the few locals living here, the majority of properties are vacation stays, not an acknowledgement or a greeting, or stop for a chat. Dogs are chiefly responsible. Almost every dog in the village has passed by to get to know Roja, sometimes with their owner tagging along, sometimes not. Quite a lot of the houses have a small bit of land, some vegetables, some have goats, some sheep, some horses. The guy who showed off his two day old foal stopped for a chat again this morning. Two women work at the Picos Information Centre and Museum, and when they arrive or depart, they chat, trying, they say, to improve their English. The place has some really good information also.

It was a rare wet morning, so a second visit to the museum was a good idea (it’s in the photo above, next to the church). Roja sits outside, with the two women occasionally making a fuss of him. I put together a three mile circuit of the village, as it is well spread out.

This is the old laundry..

And the chapel, overlooking town..

Later in the morning I drove around the the Valdeón area of the National Park. This area is much more visited than where I have been. I intend to hike the Cares Gorge, famous worldwide, but tomorrow, when it is quieter, and drier. The first part of the gorge that runs north from Posada to Soto is driven by most, though it is a narrow, winding and often steep seven kilometres. Though small, limited in size due to the surrounding rock walls, it is packed with restaurants, bars, hostels, and every bit of land for parking. Even on a wet day it was busy. I had lunch there, a half hour wander, then retreated back towards Posada. It is possible to stay in Posada, but I prefer a quieter location.

Posada is also very visited, and has an aire for motorhomes and campervans, but as of last year, not free, an automated system with a minimum of 15 euros for no services, to 30 euros for electric, water and bathrooms.

I had located a recreation area with parking on a rough track next to the lake to the just to the north of town.