Day 66 – to Espinama

Late last night in bed I read a piece on a website about a hiking route from San Gloria pass that I wasn’t aware of. I was keen to do it, so after breakfast I drove the small matter of two kilometres back to the main road and the car park at the pass.

It was a three kilometre walk into the valley, where three refuges are situated, two fairly basic ones, with open doors, and a really smart locked one owned by the Alpine Club of Spain.

As soon as we got into the valley, it had been a descent from the pass along a stream, then through two rock walls that could have been doors, we were greeted by two young wild horses. I’ve not known horses on the first encounter to be so friendly and inquisitive.

One valley runs to the east (Naranco)l but the valley I was after (Lechada) emptied into this. Even on this partly cloudy day it was spectacular.

I headed up towards its amphitheater not planning to go much further, but I got a bit carried away, and before I knew it I was at the pass. It was certain,y exhilarating, and gave me a chance of a decent on a different track.

We were back at the van just after 2 pm, having taken just over three hours, and then proceeded down to Potes, and the touristy part of the Picos.

Dark clouds had gathered and it was evident storms were due.

I tried to pick up some Bravecto for Roja, but failed. The vets said on their website they opened at 4.30 pm, but on their door it said it was for appointments only. I’ll have to wait until the next town. Picking up ticks, or ‘garrapatas’ as I have learnt, is quite possible with so many other dogs and cattle around.

By now the rain had hit, and we drove into the Fuente De valley. Fuente De has a cable car which is quite famous, though it doesn’t take dogs, so not of interest to me.

The whole valley road, about 15 kilometres from Potes is busy with restaurants, hotels and tourist infrastructure, not my sort of thing, but I will visit quickly, and in the week, so hopefully quieter.

When I got to Espinama and wandered around to look for a bar for a beer, I realised they were all closed. I chatted with the guy in the souvenir shop who told me it was because the cable car had closed at 3 pm because of the storms, so the place had emptied out. He sold me a beer, and was about to close so we sat together and chatted over various important matters, chiefly about strong dark beer.

I’m parked just above the village at an old church car park. The rain has eased for now, but tts very humid and dark overhead, so I suspect the storms will rumble on for a few hours yet.