Picos de Europa is a large area of high mountains where Cantabria, Leon and Asturius meet. We turned south from the coast west of Bilboa and wound our way into the mountains through tight turns often with vertical rock instead of shoulders. Reached the town of Potes and just past, camping at La Isla on the River Deva. It was cool and green... and the bar/restaurant hung over the rushing river. We hiked, explored the town and stayed warm in our tent with a borrowed blanket over our sleeping bags.
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| Potes |
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| Tapas time. They still sell Chesterfield cigarettes. |
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| Looks like a rig that Tommy Ray would have left in the mountains... |
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| Going up |
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| Hikin' Girl |
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| On the River Deva |
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| Pencil |
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| Ellie's view |
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| Monasterio de Santo Toribio de Liebana in the Picos |
Returning to the coast the next day we slowed down in a small town as a parade of brightly clothed musicians crossed in front of us. People were streaming by us so we grabbed the first parking space we saw and followed. We had stumbled on the beginning of the town's annual traditional Catabrian festival. Happy, kind people, great dance and music and I couldn't stop eating. Eleanor struck up conversations and we were taken under the wing of Bagoña and Manuel who filled us in on the goings-on. Also enjoyed the company of a young couple from Bilboa. Lots of fun.
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| Pouring Sidra, the local apple 'beer' |
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| Paella for the masses |
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| Eleanor with Maria Begoña, Manuel, Oihane and Iker |
It was getting late in the afternoon when we left and so we headed into Llanes, an Asturian coastal town. We found an economical room in a hotel that hung over a cliff and a secluded beach. Tucked in after a really big day.
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| A Room with a View |
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