Safe Return Doubtful

Day 62 – at Oseja de Santambre A quiet Saturday here in Oseja. I had thought that the Picos National Park would be busier, especially at the weekend, but I suspect this south western corner is more unfashionable, very few places are open, the nearest grocery store for example, is…

Day 61 – to Oseja de Santambre A couple of cars arrived late last evening, both of guys up from Madrid for a weekend in the mountains. It really is a superb location, and the hostel is a big part of that as well. Both groups left just before 9…

Day 60 – at Maraña Another tremendous mountain day in the Malpodre range. An area that is in an excellent state of conservation, due most of all, to depopulation and lack of investment and infrastructure in the area; what some would call the abandonment of an emptied Spain, good from…

Day 59 – at Maraña The village of Maraña is another little gem. I raved about Pitoes in Portugal a few weeks ago, but here there are more outdoor opportunities, a greater range of hikes and MTB routes, as well as the climbing, for which the place is renowned. I’ve…

Day 58 – to Maraña Up at Cobertoria was a great place to stay. At 5 in the morning the night sky was as clear and dark as could be hoped for. The nearest village was a long way, even the nearest habitation was. It was one of those places…

Day 57 – to the Cobertoria pass I moved around the north side of the National Park this morning on another fine day. The road is slow, but empty of traffic, as it weaves through the Teverga river canyon, vast sheer walls of rock, much of it gets very little…

Day 56 – to San Martin Clear skies and a cool morning on peeling back the curtains, but it was soon to warm up. I had concocted a circuit that took in some of the high summer pastures, gained some height, to 1600 metres, then returned on the Roman road.…

Day 55 – to San Lorenzo Pass (1347 m) Yesterday I had driven up to Alto de Farrapona at 1708 metres to undertake the trek around the high lakes. But I was defeated by the wind. It is possible to stay overnight up there, but yesterday it wasn’t even possible to…

Day 54 – to Pola de Somiedo Midway through the night the cold conditions gave way to strong winds. Needing to get up in the night for a number one is one of the pleasures of life in the van. At home it seems so much of a bind. Here,…

Day 53 – at Outier, Somiedo National Park Pealing back the porthole window curtain after the usual Roja wet nose alarm at just after 7:30, a light snow covering was evident outside, so it was slower than usual progress; some extra reading, one more cup of coffee before I go……