BLOG : Our daily adventures,
Week 43 - Novales to Playa de El Brusco
April 30th to May 6th 2023
- Day 295 &Day 296: April 30th and May 1st: Resting time with Rocio & Manuel family.
Time for a stroll on the beach and jumping in the sea at Playa de Gerra.
After a quick swim in the ocean and roasting time on the beach, we all gathered at El Rayo Verde..a bar with hundred of tables settled on the top of a hill overlooking the bay on one side and offering a stunning view of the distant mountains of picos Europa on the other ...food trucks, relaxing atmosphere, good music, good people and beautiful sunset.
The next day we were invited to a family and friends gathering...the table illustrates Rocio's expertise in interior design..simple and elegant.
I am setting up a little stage to give a mini-concert for our generous hosts...rehearsal in the sun.
Ines, a family's relative, came early to cook her speciality: Fideua, a paella variant with noodles...miam!
Manuel had some gems in his cellar and invited us for a degustation of some of the finest Spanish red wines ...delicious !
Casey is explaining our charity walk project to Manuel's friends showing them pictures of the kinderhaus and how to access our website.
Little digestive stroll along the beach...the wind is creating rivers made of sand.
- Day 297: May 2nd: Novales to Pozo Tremeo - 23 km
The next day, Manuel drove us back to where him and his family picked us up 2 days earlier : in the small village of Novales and its beautiful church.
Our hiking path in the countryside towards Santillana del Mar. The sun is back and our batteries fully loaded.
We've often seen this kind of dump station in the spanish forest. How to get rid of your garbage and destroy nature's beauty.
Little wink to our host Jesus that we've met last year on our way to Santiago.
Perfect fountain to refill our bottles before roaming in Santillana del Mar's historical center.
Santillana del Mar and its beautiful medieval houses.
More a chocolate fondue than a chocolate bar.
Here tou can apparently buy orgasms...??
As we were sitting on the patio of a restaurant and sipping wine, a group of american pilgrims was having lunch on the nearby table. After the second plate of a very rich menu del dia, they couldn't make it through the giant cheese plate the waiter just brought them. So they kindly gave us the whole thing with plenty of bread...No need to prepare lunch today!
Polanco's very fancy escuela...
23 km done for a total of 3642 + 23 = 3665 km
- Day 298: May 3rd: Pozo Tremeo to Santander - 27 km
At last Casey's favorite fruits are getting ripe ...and ready for the taken.
Whenever you are running out of money while building your house...just stop half way!
Today while having one of our break, we met again Celine and Gaelle passing by with their friend Noemie, their 2 donkeys and 2 dogs. After setting up their camp nearby, they joined us for a drink. Fun ! Hope to meet again down the line on our way to France. We are walking in the same direction.
As we were intending to catch a ferry in Santander, we had to leave in a hurry.
As we were intending to catch a ferry in Santander, we had to leave in a hurry.
Our goal today was to reach santander where we had planned first a pit stop to decathlon to buy new gaz bottles and then to head towards the docks to catch the last ferry to Somo at 7:30pm... So we push ourselves and walk as quick as we could...with 19 km under our feet, we reached the decathlon but the clock already told us we won't make it to the ferry. With no camping spots really available in the big city, Casey decided to book us a night in a cheap but charming little hotel...again we have to hurry to arrive before 10pm for the checking..according to our watch we can make it for 9:40pm.
On our way, we've found the spanish MIB headquarter!
27 km done for a total of 3665 + 27 = 3692 km
- Day 299: May the 4th be with you: Santander to Cabo de Galizano - 12 km
Miguel, the owner of the Wayve bar in Langre, gave us some good advice on where to pitch our tent this evening. We followed his indications and here is where we ended up...a cliff offering a stunning view of the sunset and sunrise. Thanks!!
12 km done for a total of 3692 + 12 = 3704 km
- Day 300: May 5th: Cabo de Galizano to Isla - 18 km
Our sunrise this morning!
Sitting with our backs against the wall of the beautiful Iglesia de San Martin de Tours in the small town of Ajo, we devoured our brunch more than we ate it (We've walked 12 km with an empty stomach and Casey was on the verge of collapsing).
18 km done for a total of 3704 + 18 = 3722 km
- Day 301: May 6th: Isla to Playa de El Brusco - 15 km
Playa Isla, a whole island has been colonized by a circular shaped resort..
We wanted to cross over to the next village but the river is too deep...frustrating when the otger side is just 5 meters away...we have to go inland to cross the nearest bridge 3 km from here!
And here it comes the bridge...quite an impressive landscape crossing a lagoon...
Good timing..as we reached an old water mill located mid-way of the bridge..it started to rain heavily...no problem: we can wait under a roof playing "singing in the rain" and "purple rain" on our speaker full volume...dancing away the bad weather.
15 km done for a total of 3722 + 15 = 3737 km