Safe Return Doubtful

Day 52 – to Outier, Somiedo National Park Twenty days since any rain, but it was a rainy morning today. At this time of year the temperature drops considerably also as a front comes through, it was a maximum of 7C this morning. I finished my William Boyd novel, which…

Day 51 – to Villaseca de Laciana I’ve just started reading William Boyd’s new novel, I am a big fan of his. This, The Romantic, tells the story of a man’s life, born in 1799 and lived until he was 82. His best novels have taken a similar pattern, Any…

Day 50 – to a Refugio above Páramo del Sil I drove southwest for twenty kilometres or so, over a pass on a road full of potholes to the town of Páramo del Sil, which was pretty quiet on an Easter Monday. In the last 10 days I’ve almost done…

Day 49 – to Trabáu Saturday night is always a bit later to bed than usual, and often with a Talisker. I watched a good new French drama film, called La Nuit de 12, before I was tempted. It did well at Cannes, and is a thought-provoking and different take…

Day 48 – to Trabáu Pass (1078 m) A cool morning with the only sign of life being a fly-fisherman in the river. The Spanish generally aren’t early risers, especially on this long weekend. I wandered into the town get some bread, then we packed up and departed, filling up with…

Day 47 – to A Proba de Navia My objective today was the main ridge of the Bierzos mountains, which lay to the west. Yesterday I had headed east on the ridge. Being the holiday weekend, it did mean there were a few other people around, but really very few.…

Day 46 – to the Ancares Pass (1669 metres) My business this morning centred around sorting what was needed for the Easter weekend, as shops close this afternoon until Tuesday in most cases. Job One – water fill up.. Job Two – take out the trash Job Three – supermarket…

Day 45 – at Burbia There’s another campervan just 100 metres or so away, a young family from A Coruña with two little girls who love to make a fuss of Roja, much to the disgust of their own dog. Their dog is a younger male, German Shepherd of a…

Day 44 – at Burbia These Bierzo mountains are a plum choice for mountain activities, and the peaceful village of Burbia is a perfect base. There are actually quite a few people in the holiday homes with it being the Easter week and school holidays. The guy I got talking…

Day 43 – to Burbia I’ve continued up a 12 kilometre cul-de-sac into the Sierra de Ancares mountains to a remote village called Burbia. It’s school holidays now, so there are a few families around, most of which are based here all year. I’m stopped up by the village football…