Al booked us into another micro-hotel, we will spend 2 days here exploring. It’s over the weekend and not a lot happening bus wise on a Sunday. We will catch another bus Monday morning, early. Very early actually, bus departs at 7 for A Coruña. We are switching from the Camino Norte to the English route.

We have missed walking to Finisterre on our previous caminos, we are making that a priority this time. So far we have walked about 197 miles in two weeks! Seems crazy, I think Al is underestimating us. There is a lot of walking he’s not tracking, then there’s when he forgets to even start the tracker. 😐

Yesterday in Gijon we were all over the place, watching Al’s Relive video it looks like a giant spiders web.

After checking in and dropping off our backpacks we headed out. The beach has a long tidal zone. We walked down the promenade and it seemed like the whole city was there. We walked along and past the Church and ended up on the battlements.

After wandering around the Battlements we went down into an older part of town. There are several Sidrerias on each side of the road. We went into one and ordered a bottle. The waitress put it into this contraption that when you hit the button the sidra pours out and at the same time it aerates the sidra. Which you are supposed to just put a mouthful or so in your glass and drink it right way.

After are refreshment break we continued on down through the older section of town and made our way back towards the beach.

Tomorrow we intend to go in the other direction down the beach and explore that end of town, until then.. be well.

Al’s Relive video which includes 89 miles of bus ride,

https://www.relive.cc/view/vYvEK4pYrw6

We left Peral without breakfast or coffee, we assumed we would get it at the next town. You know what they say about assuming. The weather forecast said cloudy most of the day, but we walked in the rain for several km this morning. We hoped for coffee in La Franca but both cafes were closed.

The road was gravel this morning and we could see the mountains ahead.

Then we passed through Buelna. We did not take the traditional route along the coast this morning, we thought it might be to dangerous due to the weather. The alternate route followed the road. Not as many views but still flowers all over the place.

We walked on, up and down a few times, through the woods, past this really cool campground called La Paz, white circular tents were nestled under the rock face. There were canals running through the campground from the Rió Novales. We walked beside the river and then through the trees, a perfect little beach.

We left the beach and went up a couple of switchbacks. We walked along higher on the ridge. Lots of people out walking here. Also cows, sheep and horses.

Al really wanted to see the blow holes, which we did but they weren’t active because the tide just wasn’t right.

We decided on a break, we each had a granola bar earlier but it was really nice sitting watching the baby horses. We ate some olives and popped the top on a small can of tuna.

We walked up and then down again then over a bridge over the Rió Purón,

After 18 km, We finally got a coffee in Andrin, I actually had two, it was almost 2 in the afternoon and by then I was having a caffeine withdrawal headache. Ugg! We met the sweetest man and I approached him and asked, “Donde está café”? He walked us through town and delivered us to the cafe!

We only have 6 more km’s to Llanes. We left town and went up some more switchbacks. We were up high on the coast again and could see a beautiful beach below.

We then had to walk on the side of the road again leading down into Cue.

Then sidewalks entering into the bigger city of Llanes. We booked ahead at the Albergue La Estación. The Camino is very popular now and even on the Norte we are finding you need to book ahead. Twice now we couldn’t get a bed. We have heard others saying the same thing. There’s just not that many places on the Norte unless your booking in private pensions or hotels. When we did our prior Caminós you didn’t need to worry about reserving ahead until you were closer to Santiago.

After walking partway through Llanes we found our Albergue and checked in. It turns out that I needed to specifically ask for a bottom bunk if that’s what we wanted. So we each ended up on a top bunk and another lesson learned.

Here is Al’s relive video of todays walk, a little over 24 kms today getting to Llanes.

https://www.relive.cc/view/vRO78QKYjK6

Tomorrow we plan another jump, we’re thinking of leaving the Norte and switching to the English Route to Santiago. Will keep you updated.. until then be well.

Our Albergue was pretty nice. We saw a few familiar faces. We did have to wash our clothes in the bathroom sink where there was wash boards provided. A nice clothesline outside under lemon and orange trees.

In the morning I took a quick picture before we left, it looks like the tide change is quite substantial.

We left early, before the crowd, as we leave we leave Cantabria behind and enter Asturias. Again we walked on cement roads but the view was nice.

I loved the sunbeam’s breaking through the clouds as I looked back.

We walked mostly on backroads through small hamlets and farmland. We did not see the coast today. When we got to the Albergue where we had hoped to stay, which has 117 beds, it was sold out. There were two other places in town, also full. We had to walk on to the next town. We ended up in Peral. We got a private room above a bar/restaurant. We went out to find a grocery store but no luck, we ended up eating dinner in the bar and had an early night.

https://www.relive.cc/view/vXOnxPM2e5q

Now, todays,

https://www.relive.cc/view/vJOKZd5p85v

Tomorrow we hope to see some “ Bufones” , blow holes. .. until then, be well

We left a little bit late this morning knowing that we had until 11:20am before our bus left. We went back downtown to the ferry stop and from there to the bus terminal. We hit a snag there, we were given mis-information, our bus wasn’t leaving till 12:55pm. We got coffee and sat down to wait.

I’ve mentioned before how great the mass transit system is here but it bares repeating. Our bus driver was great, we stowed our backpacks below the bus and paid him less then 10E to go 67 km, for the both of us!

We bussed to Comillas and our plan is to do a “ Nero”. A Nero is a nearly zero day or a low mileage day.

We walked through the center of the old section of town past a long park heading towards the coast. We walked along past an estuary for awhile.

Then we passed this fabulous lagoon.

Then we walked around a golf course and there was La Playa de Oyambre beach.

All along the beach were camper vans with surf boards attached. Further up the coast we saw land rented out for parking of campers and vans. We started going uphill and rounded the headland. Farm land was on our left and mountains beyond.

We rounded the corner and could see Grera beach below us.

We watched the people surfing for a few minutes. Then it was uphill again.

We really didn’t know exactly where we were staying the night. We have been having a hard time finding beds. Tonight we tried Booking.com and we were walking to the place but the add must have been old. There was no Pension there. So I saw a bigger Albergue on the edge of town we tried there next. Uphill again of course.

We were at the Albergue De Peregrinos de San Vincente. It had 38 bunks, a small kitchen and lounge and separate bathrooms and showers for men and women. We settled in quick then headed down for some dinner.

We walked around a bit and decided on where to eat our meal of the day. Our waitress tonight spoke no English and I only know a basic Spanish. 1st course, paella, was excellent, I ate the octopus parts and everything. 2nd course I went on her recommendation, a local small fish, fried with patatas fritas on the side. Al had to eat that. I have no idea what it was and I honestly did try it. A small bit anyway.

Tomorrow we head inland for awhile, until then be well

I forgot Al’s Relive video of yesterday’s walk, link is below.

https://www.relive.cc/view/vPOprBz57Rq

We jumped on a city bus and headed back to the city pier where we started walking yesterday. Today we go in the opposite direction.

I still carried my backpack but mostly empty, just food, water and emergency stuff. Al had a small bag that he also carried. We really want to walk as much as we can today, so we are “slack packing” it. We left everything in our hotel room today knowing we are returning to the same place later tonight.

We continue through the city following the curve of the coast. We can see Soma on the other side.

We got a little lost here. We were supposed to go up multiple stair cases to get to another level but stairs were closed for repairs. We had to find a road that went out to the coast.

We are almost there, we unavoidably missed a piece but that’s okay.

It was rutted and rocky but still we enjoyed ourselves walking along the top of the ridge line.

We are about at the end of our cliff walk along the coast. We had wanted to do more that’s the reason behind the slack packing but my feet have met their limit. We turned in at an Estuary called Ría de San Pedro Del Mar.

Als Relive Video link is below, I almost forgot again

https://www.relive.cc/view/vPOprBywKEq

Tomorrow we leave Santander by bus heading further up the coast.. until then be well.

At this hostel we were treated like expected and welcome guests. We were invited to the dinner that they prepared and then waited on by them. Bringing us more helpings and encouraging us all to eat and enjoy. This hostel is special, they have a philosophy of volunteerism that he explains during a pre-dinner talk that we were encouraged to attend.

We left heading down, that was a first for us so far. Walking along on the side of the road heading to Galizano with the hopes of making it to Santander today.

We entered town and headed to the coast.

We left the town behind and started walking beside farm land on left side and the ocean to our right. The views were incredible and we could see Santander off in the distance.

We walked on the beach for a bit and decided to walk into Loredo heading to our next ferry point in Somo.

Walking through town seemed to go on for ever, almost the end of a long day. Lots of surf shops and schools here. We made it to the ferry just in time to see it leaving. We grabbed a seat and waited about 25 minutes for it’s return.

We booked ahead in Santander, we decided to stay two days. We want to try lightning our packs and seeing if we can walk more without all that weight on our backs.

It’s pouring down rain now but we carry on on the regular Norte route through the center of the City. We are in time for a late lunch and find a restaurant serving the Meal of the day. The rain has lessened now and we soon find our place and settle in.

Tomorrow our plan is to take a bus back to the ferry point and start walking the alternative route there along the coastline…so until then be well.