Berducedo to Grandas de Salime

After the drama of yesterday, today’s stage was lower key. First we ascertained that Neil was up to walking and when that seemed okay we set off. Once again the route led immediately up and then down and up it went all day. 

Ones again the mist rolled in to fill the valleys.

We had a long breakfast/coffee stop in La Mesa - about 4km along the road - and a lovely chat with Janusz before he headed off to walk faster and further than we were going today. Over the course of that hour, many other pilgrims stopped for coffee and there’s a growing sense of community among those sharing these stages.

Here are our guardian angels from yesterday. Magda from Poland, Klara from Czech Republic and Maylin from Germany. And in the background, the central feature of today - the Embalse de Salime, a massive reservoir.

We descended over 1000 metres today, and our knees definitely began to feel it. 

And we ascended about 800 metres, by which stage we weren’t taking pictures!! Just puffing up the road!

We arrived at Grandas de Salime, a nice little town with a wonderful church of San Salvador in the centre. It was originally constructed in 1186, and remodelled in the 17th to 19th centuries. A 19th century portico of semi-circular arches around the church provided shelter to pilgrims, and we’ve made use of it in the writing of our blog today!

We’ve also caught up with Klara who checked and re-dressed Neil’s cuts - she is pleased with his progress and we are also now supplied with bandages of our own from the local Farmacia. He is a bit sore and weary, but going well.

Tomorrow we cross the border from Asturias into Galicia, and predictably rain is forecast! 

Buen Camino,

Sarah and Neil