Today is why I go to the gym

I'm sitting outside our rather nice, and pricey, holiday house, feeling very chuffed with myself. Today we managed a spectacular climb up to 1200m and part of the way down again. My feet don't hurt much, my knees not at all and I'm nicely knackered but so pleased to have done it. Just proves excersise in the gym is worth it, as ten years ago walks like this were agony.
After an ok night in the dorm we were up before sunrise and out by 7. Me, Fiona and Gower Dave. There was nothing in the hamlet where we spent last night except a couple of houses and a sign saying Berducedo. The track couldn't have been any more vertical without needing steps, so I was soon wide awake and sweating buckets. Even though it was 9c with a bitting wind. We climbed steadily and were soon looking back towards Tineo where we started from yesterday. The mist filled the valley like a sea, and the attached photos don't do it justice. So beautiful.
After about 300m of up we rejoined the main path which crossed open mountain for the next couple of hours. Heather and scrub with cows eating it. Not a sole in sight, as we left so early. The photo with the barbed wire in the foreground is the pass and ridge looking back as we approached Berducedo where we are now. The wind was too cold for a breakfast stop so we just kept going, eventually coming to a long steep decent. It was loose stones and the others raced ahead but I managed to get down without falling over for a change. Lower down the wild flowers were fantastic, and there was a lovely pine plantation to walk through towards the end.
We collapsed into a bar, had a beer and a bocadillo before checking in here, doing some washing and buying some food so we can eat something other than meat. Now I'm chilling and enjoying a bit of luxury before the next stage tomorrow.Leggi altro