Oviedo to Escamplera

So I jumped out bed this morning before my alarms and got ready, grabbed some small cakes for breakfast and started out.

The Cathedral didn't open until 9am, it was 8.30am so I wandered around Oviedo trying to make sense of my guide book. To no avail, the city of Oviedo has street markings so obscure England during world war two black outs would be impressed. Camoflauged amongst the buildings painted in vivid earthy tones are small bronze plaques with street names, if its there at all.

Thankfully the city centre is not so big, as to get too bafflingly lost. The way out was pleasant too, but first the cathedral.

One of the burial shrouds of Christ

It was a very ordinary looking cathedral, classic layouts, an over excess of gilted iconography that is the standard of most Catholic churches, beautiful but not mind blowing. The real prize of the place however is in the vault, literally behind security bars. More gilted treasures, the cross Lampayo took into battle with him when the first battles of the Reconquista were fought, several other gifts from royal patrons including Alfonso I the one who did the first religious pilgrimage, but thats not what I found intriguing.

They had a cloth, a shroud, that had been part of the burial garments of Jesus. Now whether you believe in the divinity of such things is up to you, but I do, and I found it fascinating that here was a corporeal item related to someone who had so much effect on human history.

Setting off from the Cathedral and following the guide book, I drifted out of the nicely appointed suburbs of Oviedo and into the hills.

The moment I saw my first cow, I knew I was firmly out of the city.

Then I walked, and walked, and walked, collecting an additional stamp until one last push on to Escalero.

I decided to stop here for the night, as the hills and ravines are just as challenging as I thought they would be. Also wine is 0.70 a glass, so it won a Humphreys award, and it seemed to me like a sensible idea to call it, and assess the damage of the day.

Wear and tear wise, I'm fine, some pain in my feet and muscle ache, I've also got some rash marks or what not on my feet. Hopefully I can stick to timings tomorrow, pack up early, eat and everything else and get to Grado in good time.

Bed time now, the pilgrims outside playing the mandolin and singing alto versions of 'I'm A Freak' amongst other things have stopped.

Thanks to my patrons.

Brendan Mills, Renee Rushbrook, Carlos Ara.