Election --- Wot Election ??

Thursday 6th May 2010

The day dawned bright and clear'ish,

so I decided to do a walk from one of the books I've got, walking from Potes, to 3 of the remotest villages in the area...it was only supposed to be a moderate walk, 800 mts of climbing ,and to last 4 hours..

.

here's my route -- in Spanish

http://cantabriaenbici.es/primavera2007/40-ruta.html

If only, although I had a great walk, through mountaineous country through Frama-- and up to Lubayo a 'real' hill village, where the road, if you can call it that was really a mud splattered track, going 'straight up', and making me pant ! and warmed me up well...I should have said I'd chanced the shorts, and was glad I was wearing them, to keep cool...

I carried on across some high meadows, following an ever upwards track, till eventually I gained the top of the Collado de Porciedo, 800 mts, but, looking either side of the col, were two tops which I decided to climb --

Pico Pumar, and Mediajo, both of which put a couple of hundered meters on my days climbing - but it was worth it with great views all around, although the highest tops in the Picos were still hidden under cloud.

I carried on through the ancient village of Tudes which had a 'Bar des Ingles' ( I think that's the English bar !, although it was closed... )

and through the abandoned village of Porcieda, who's only occupants were the local herdsmean and his grazing cattle - along with obligatory 2 dogs !

It was then a stroll (!) through some Oak bark forests, differing areas, and eventually dropping me down into Potes...

It had taken about 6 hours ! of walking and meandering,

I'd not met another single walker....

and No Ballot Boxes in sight...

Hope the High Peak Ballot isn't decided by 1 vote, I'll have to own up...

A gentle stroll back to the campsite, and Chorizo 3 bean stew, followed by Chicken Dopiaza ( courtesy of wayfarer meals)...a good snooze later..