Bill Arney

At the point where the Primitivo splits from the Norte, I briefly remembered last night’s talk with a French woman who has walked many different routes over the past 10 years. She thought I could and should do it. So I became part of the 25% turning left.  And then I went up and then down into Valdedios to see the monastery and then straight up to see the same monastery from what the guidebook calls a hilltop (translation: punishingly hard place to get to). Rain, chills, mud, but … quite nice really. I am the only one in a beautiful, new, municipal albergue in Palo de Siero.