What an excellent day today. A very comfortable night in the Hotel Colonia in Santillana del Mar and a very pleasant breakfast during which we watched the local spoonbills flying back and forth.
After checking out we met up with Peter and Linda and set off along the very attractive coast road to San Vicente de la Barquera passing fields of early purple and pyramidal orchids on the way along with good numbers of the unusual tongue orchids. San Vicente is a very attractive estuary and port bordered by cliffs on one side and surfing beach on the other. We headed for the impressive lighthouse and visitor centre where were informed that the road to Potes was closed. As this entailed doubling the distance of our journey we set off poste haste. What a fabulous road the diversion was, winding its way up through the mountains to over 4000 feet with stunning views of the snow clad Picos. After the climb came the seemingly endless descent to Potes. Passing through the very attractive town we soon arrived at our campsite where we were greeted by a very friendly guardian who showed us to a lovely, quiet spot on the site with wonderful views of the 6000 foot wall of mountains beyond. It was a delight, although sweaty one in 25C temperatures, setting up our home from home, made more interesting with black kites wheeling above us. Once established we drove back down to Potes for a beer run to the supermercardo, and a few other things. Back at the site a couple of cool beers was a real reviver before an excellent and exceedingly cheap meal in the campsite bar. A night cap of 10 year old Torres preceded a relatively early night, the only sound to disturb us the rushing waters of the river running past the site.
After checking out we met up with Peter and Linda and set off along the very attractive coast road to San Vicente de la Barquera passing fields of early purple and pyramidal orchids on the way along with good numbers of the unusual tongue orchids. San Vicente is a very attractive estuary and port bordered by cliffs on one side and surfing beach on the other. We headed for the impressive lighthouse and visitor centre where were informed that the road to Potes was closed. As this entailed doubling the distance of our journey we set off poste haste. What a fabulous road the diversion was, winding its way up through the mountains to over 4000 feet with stunning views of the snow clad Picos. After the climb came the seemingly endless descent to Potes. Passing through the very attractive town we soon arrived at our campsite where we were greeted by a very friendly guardian who showed us to a lovely, quiet spot on the site with wonderful views of the 6000 foot wall of mountains beyond. It was a delight, although sweaty one in 25C temperatures, setting up our home from home, made more interesting with black kites wheeling above us. Once established we drove back down to Potes for a beer run to the supermercardo, and a few other things. Back at the site a couple of cool beers was a real reviver before an excellent and exceedingly cheap meal in the campsite bar. A night cap of 10 year old Torres preceded a relatively early night, the only sound to disturb us the rushing waters of the river running past the site.
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All is well with the world - Mike's musings are there for us to enjoy before sleep. Have a great day tomorrow. Buena nocha?
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