Setting off after breakfast we followed the camino sign past the Guardia Civil building and stopped to ask for a sello. They seemed a little surprised, but interested. Once they realised the reason they were only to happy to open the gate and take our credenciales into the office to stamp. They agreed that our decision to walk the camino de la Reina (GR108/9) was good as the route from Llanes could have been difficult due to the weather and the Ruta de la Reconquista, from either end is for groups and experienced mountain hikers. The walking today was mostly along the river and was lovely.
In Celorio de Onis an elderly gentleman was sitting in the shade of his hórreo and we stopped to talk. He was very interesting and also interested in our pilgrimage, then signed our credenciales. As we made to walk on he pointed us the way over a new wooden bridge which saved walking up to the road ahead to cross the river. His route took us right through the village of Soto de Cangas, rather than just outside on the main road. The village road led over the river to the road and eventually to our hotel (El Molino de Partidor) where we arrived very early.
Leaving our rucksacs in a cupboard while our room was being finished we set off to walk up the road to the restaurant recommended at the hotel. There were a number of places to eat along the road but El Bosque did offer the best options and also has an amazing indoor barbecue. Further along the road was a craft centre and we bought a wooden spatula as a useful momento. It had the advantage of weighing little too.
Washing siesta and an afternoon walk around the village was followed by locally bought bread and sardines for tea, which we ate sat sat on a bench by the river behind the hotel.
Usually pilgrims' shadows are in front of them as they head west to Santiago. This one is heading east to Covadonga.
The Camino de Covadonga and Picos de Europa near Celorio de Onis
Soto de Cangas:-
Camino sign and track
The River Covadonga
Soto de Cangas and the River Covadonga from the main road
The indoor barbecue at the Restaurante El Bosque
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