31 May Ballota 28 km

Destination Ballota very excited after last nights georgous small fishing village nestled literally on a hill. We  started in the rain ending in sunshine, track most varied  yet were either going up or down a hill ! On road and off road beautiful bush tracks with water still draining from the hills on them.

Temp started out at 14 degrees and rose to 18 over the day.

We are surrounded by farm land and following a mountain range the runs along the coast.

The farm land is just wide open space with minimal fencing. The fences that are there look as though the animals can come and go as they please. There are a few well contained but generally not.The chickens are just put in the garage for the night! There has been a lot of feed cut and made into silage. 

"Looks like plenty of feed and lots of rain"

This villages population is 305 people , has an old church that use to be a safe house for outlaws once inside they couldn't be touched by law"

These photos are of the hotel and the track. The village is a drive through in one minute .

30 May - Cudillero

Early start due to the long hike. Managed to have the Weather-Gods on our side - expected rain but had sun nearly all the way.  The terrain was a real mix ...pavement, trenchfoot territory and stunning bush. Came across only 3 groups of pilgrims during the whole walk, and again no shops or cafes

. Cudillerio was a surprise gem and well worth the walk off the traditional Norte Camino. Such a relaxing coastal village, well worth traipsing half way around the world to visit.  The hub of the village is very different to what you initally walk into. It had us worried at first, but then stunned us. So much so we had to sit in the sun for several hours sampling vino tinto!

29 May Aviles

Left Gijon in drizzle for the 24 km walk to Aviles. This leg had been described as the least enjoyable due to the walkout through industrial landscape and the walk-in to Aviles via main arterial route and traffic. They weren't wrong and we noticed immediately, the stark contrast between the wealth of housing going into Gijon and the lack of it going out and into Aviles.

Pretty soon we were in farmland and country lanes - it's so green (lots of precipitation obviously) and we caught up with our old peregrinos friends - the Swiss. 

Coming into Aviles there was a lot of state housing and high rise apartment blocks. Again, very industrial but found our hotel without too much trouble . Our hotel room is large and has a magnificent bathroom. And of course the coffee, food and wine is great. Yum chocolate! The local church is a stunning Neo-gothic piece of architecture built at the start of the 20th century . 

Enjoying every minute !!

28 th May Thursday Gjion

Rest day . yah!

 Pouring with rain we finally get to our books. Our tired bodies are grateful for a rest and catch up day with home N Z and laundry. 

Population 275000, temp 14 degrees, we are in hotel San Esteban .

Breakfast is now a big priority as we are famished each day.

The town is very condensed and are seeing seven storied buildings. 

The city is prehistoric and established by the Romans.

The cities most profound changes occurred with the industrial revolution when it became a major manufacturing city.

It has been great to be around in the morning and not arriving when everything is shut and everyone has disappeared.

Our fellow pilgrims who have moved on are now having difficulty with accommodation, not found sometimes till 11 pm so we are glad we have pre booked. 

The hills are also becoming challenging with their packs and their blistered feet not having time to heal and blisters developing on blisters. Ouch!  

Yesterday was the first day we felt the distance and needed distracting with our IPODS. 

Yesterday's journey. Spectacular again.

27 May Gijon

We left a 6º Villaviciosa a singing 'always look on the bright side of life' not quite pitch perfect and appreciating the crisp fine day and the company of 12 other pilgrims. With  a  30km trek and several 220m sharp  ascents with confusing waymarkings to Gijon, hitting the road at 730am was essential.  The beautiful day matched the great climbs,  tranquil and remote countryside which at times was slippery under foot thanks to yesterdays torrential downpour.

The first cafe we came across was closed at 11am. Two delivery men arrived and started calling out to Maria to open up, but she was did not. Even with Jude's docile tones to support the guys Maria was not stirred into action! So 24km into the trek we found the only other outlet enroute! Needless to say the plastic chairs and sun umbrellas made the coffee and stop over perfecto! Fueled we then  did the 2.5 hour walk from the outskirts of Gijon to the CBD and our hotel. This walk took us through suburbs oozing great wealth ...a stark contrast to the rundown and deserted villages from the past 9 days.

Today marks 208 kms walked, although our 'actuals' has it at 238kms! Hopefully we will continue to be efficient with our map reading and be nice to our tootees! Tomorrow is a rest day and we are in our first major city for 9 days ... yeha!