 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
DISTANCE: 83.97 k/52.2 mi; TIME: 5h 23m; AV: 15.6 kph/9.7 mph; ODO: 1932.1 k
I did not have a very good night’s sleep. The room lacked ventilation, it was too hot, and the bed was too soft ( it had two mattresses). The one redeeming factor was that one of the administrators did breakfast for us. I had bread, butter and honey, and an infusion of Verve Menthe.PHOTOS:I was on the road by about 8 am. It had rained overnight and rained again on the way out of León. After a bit it dried up. On the way I left the main road and went through Hospital de Orbigo and across the Bridge of the Paso Honroso; 20 arches, 204 metres long. It is one of the oldest bridges in Spain. It started to rain again as I approached Astorga.
I felt pretty fed up on arrival, but bucked up after an orange juice and a cake. I visited the cathedral and its museum and changed my French Francs into Pesetas; a lengthy business. I selected a restaurant for lunch on the same sde of the road as the Gaudi Palace, but the opposite end of the square.
I set out for Rabanal. On reaching Pedredo I realised that I was on the wrong road. It was now raining again and I had to go back and find my turning. When I found the turn I should have made, I saw the multi-coloured sign that I noticed before. This obviously took my attention and I missed the sign to El Ganso. I arrived in Rabanal just as the rain stopped! Eventually I found the Refugio Gelcelmo, but it was full. A message told me about the new refuge. I set out to find it, but I saw the hotel, “La Posada de Gaspar” first, so I checked in there in desperation. I now had the problem of drying everything out!
I looked in the dining room about 8 pm. People were eating so I went in for dinner. I paid the bill for the room and the meal, because it was not possible before 9 am in the morning.
The heating had come on when I returned to my room, so I stood my shoes on the radiator again.
Bridge of the Paso Honroso at Hospital de Orbigo
Alter Screen - Astoga Cathedal
 |
|
 |