Day 19 Nueva to Ribadesella

Another gentle day drifting on the Camino del Notre. I met the pilgrim who is carrying everything sorting out his tent in a field just outside Nueva, we exchanged our usual short greetings. His name is Yanis I’ve discovered. He was fortunate to have found a place without cows.

I crossed the railway line several times and at Cuerres I passed the halfway point, by my calculation, at 411km. The medieval bridge outside the village crosses the Rio Guadamia and made for a restful spot, a separate route follows the river for several kilometres and I was tempted to follow it, however I would have had to retrace my steps which I wasn’t up for.

I arrived in Ribadesella just in time to visit the impressive Iglesia de Santa María Magdalene before it closed at 1pm. The 20th century mural panels by 3 local brothers recollecting the civil war were quite extraordinary, and impossible to capture on camera.

My accommodation tonight is 2km from town and 1.5km from the Camino. It’s very comfortable and there’s a small roadside café minutes away that starts serving food at 7pm, a record thus far.

The extra is some stone artwork from one of the local schools, I especially liked the goldfinch, I see them most days along with black redstarts and serins.

About 17km, didn’t record ascent, 3 pilgrims, one fleeting and meaningful conversation. One mosquito bite ( the other 3 disappeared several days ago) and the tiny blister that developed yesterday (webbing coming away from my left Keen walking shoe) has thankfully also disappeared.