Spain, May/June 2018. Day 6

A good night's sleep last night with no rain.  We awoke to a misty morning but it is gradually lifting and the sun is making an appearance.  The big mountains have yet to reveal themselves but flocks of boisterous chough keep flying overhead.  The only sounds other than birds are the cheerful rushing of the river and the clonking of cow bells as the herd is taken to pasture.   The plan for today is a walk and then a visit to Potes, our very attractive local village/town.
We were soon organised, pack-up made and heading out of Potes on the San Glorio pass road to La Vega where we turned off to Cucayo.  The road wound up and up through Dobres and Bárago and then through tunnels where we stopped for some photography.  We were pleased to see vultures and delighted and amazed when suddenly an Egyptian vulture flew by giving wonderful views. 
We quickly reached Cucayo and set off through the attractive village of old stone houses with fabulous pantilled roofs coveted on mosses, lichens and succulents.  We had lunch looking out over dramatic limestone cliffs and pinnacles.  The path lead to a col where there was a shrine where we scrambled up to a rock peak above.  Peter and I then continued down the pass on the other side to Bárago where Heather and Linda picked us up.  We were fascinated that underneath the limestone the rock was loose, shaken, conglomerate containing some huge boulders.
It wasn't long before we were back at Potes exploring this beautiful old town e en managing to catch the end of the penultimate stage of the Giro before coffee and cake, shopping and then returning for a BBQ.  An excellent day and, amazingly, it managed to stay dry.

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Spain, May/June 2018. Day 5

We enjoyed an excellent meal at the campsite restaurant last night, the menu del noche two bottles of wine and coffee for €40 followed by 10 year old Torres and Manzanilla back at the tents before setting in for a welcome night's sleep.  Although we slept well we were aware of the heavy rain most of the night following last night's thunder storm. 
We opted for a relaxed morning enjoying the sun and the views of the mountains from the site. Eventually we stirred, made a pack up and set off for a drive up the Puerto de San Glorio pass to get a feel for the area.  The weather was a tad mixed and we had some spells of rain but this didn't spoil the day and we experienced some dramatic cloudscapes.  It was particularly impressive as we were at about 5500 feet.  The highlight of the day was the flowers, especially orchids that we found: early purple, green winged, red and yellow elder flower, burnt tip, pink butterfly and tongue orchids, two species of wild narcissus, dogs tooth violet, fritillary, lythospernum, nottingham catchfly, giant ashphodel and oxslip.
Back at the site now and sadly the rain is pouring down.  Still we are warm and dry and a communal meal of pork chops in white wine with rice and green beans is being prepared.  Beer o'clock has, of course, arrived and the Pickwell brothers will be enjoying 10 year old Torres as a digestive before bed,  the lady assistants preferring manzanilla sherry.

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Spain, May/June 2018. Day 4

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.

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