Day 23 – Comical Ending

Muros de Nalón to Santa Marina, 27Km

Sunday morning in Spain and everything was closed, except for the churches which are closed and locked every other day of the week. That’s why I’ve not been able to photograph any. The bar was closed in Muros de Nalón this morning so I set off without breakfast. The scenery was unremarkable unless you’ve never been in woodland before. The Camino kept close company with the N632 road and that is where breakfast was to be found. I came to a petrol station with a bar attached and ordered a cafe con leche. That cheered me up a lot.

After 15 Km I reached Soto de Luiña and split my business between the bakery which sold croissants and the bar which sold coffee. The Camino divides at this point between the traditional route which I’m following and a new mountain route without services or water etc., according to the notice. I continued along a fairly rough trail which I shared with a stream. The sky darkened, thunder rumbled and then the lightening began. I quickened my pace but the rain came.

It was a comical ending to the day’s walk. Google gave me directions to the pension, 2.2 Km away in the next village. 37 minutes. I put on all my rain gear in Santa Marina, ready for a soaking and rounded the corner to see a bar which was open. Glory be! I ordered a zero alcohol beer and the bar man asked if I was staying in the Pension Prada. I said I was, thinking he might order me a taxi but he pointed to the building opposite which I immediately recognised as the Prada. It was part of his empire and he checked me in.

By this time the rain was falling so I ordered his menu of the day while I removed my almost dry rain gear. I checked the weather forecast which predicted no rain for 117 minutes. It must be a bad day for artificial intelligence.