Day 17 to Grandas de Salime - Castro
20 September 2023 Day 17 destination Grandas de Salime / San Julian Apartments 30km 16.8 miles 35500 steps
Today was about the downhill sounds easy but I walk it half the pace because of the potential damage to knees or ankles. It was way less strenuous than other days, but still tiring four hours were spent going downhill.
Beautiful ’sidewalk’ watch your step..
Down down down all day the goal is to get around the reservoir today to the other town on the other side …on the other side of that hill is St. Julian I thought it would take 2 1/2 hours it took 4 hours just to get past the reservoir. It was an eight hour day of walking.
So we came down that whole other side of the mountain had to go around the reservoir and off to this other side- it took four hours. It was interesting and contemplative.
These memorials show up every other day or thereabouts. They are sad to pass by. This young lady Paula evidently passed away before midnight June 2022
A tree that was born before the start of the century survived two world wars and the Spanish revolution!
At last some level ground after a Very Long slog-so very nice very beautiful more climbing tomorrow! But a few more paces to what turned out to be fabulous lodging!
San Julian Apartmento. Sean and his partner Meinhardt have created a real paradise in the little hamlet of Saint Julian. The restoration of the farmstead was just fabulous! Restoration was completed early in 2019 (April or May) and then Covid blew up in the world! Sadly, Sean had a heart attack that same summer, but has recovered nicely. They’re in is a real labor of love. They both work the kitchen, and are gourmet all the way right down the homemade jams and jellies from fruit in their Orchard..
Around the bar and getting our cello stamp for our pilgrim passports after dinner. Proprietors Sean (Ireland) and Meinhardt (South Africa)
New friends were made today, Ellen (Manchester), Cali (UK) Holger, Walter (nederlands), yo, Steve (Butte Montana)
Painting in the bar in restaurante Polavila at Sean & Meinhardts
Highlight of the day: the ‘ refugio’ of Sean & Meinhardts accommodations at San Julian. I really hope to return and stay for 2 days next time. Thank you for your gift of hospitality!
“I am all that I have always longed to be when walking..."
~anonymous
