Day 2, Escampiero to Grado

 Friday 4 September 13.5 km

The restaurant where we ate last night had kindly made us a bocadilla de queso (cheese sandwich) each as no breakfast options were available in this small town. We also had two kiwi fruit, a nectarine and roasted peanuts and almonds with us. We set off at 8.30 again this morning and stopped at the Chapel of Fatima where there were picnic tables and ate our breakfast there.

We walked on to Premono and got a coffee at the albergue Cafe that was open. Steve also had  pain a chocolate so he must be getting his appetite back.

On to Paladin where we took a short break by the river, and another break at Penaflor. Nothing open in either place but we had plenty of water and the roasted nuts. 

We arrived in Grado/Grau around 1 pm, a bigger town, and we were able to get cold soft drinks and a tapa of tortilla on crusty bread. On to the albergue to check in, shower and rinse out our walking clothes. By the time we had done that it was past 3 pm and of course all kitchens had closed and we have to wait for dinner until 8 pm. We need to get smarter and make sure we have lunch between 1 and 3. That had been our plan before we started this walk but the thought of a shower is so compelling when we arrive at our destination. From now on we will put food first.😊

We went out for a coffee around 4.30 and booked a table for dinner at 8.15.

It was an enjoyable walk today through farming area with cattle, sheep and some donkeys. Plenty of shaded paths through woodland, often beside stretches of different rivers and the road sections were fairly short. The difference in temperature coming off the shady paths and into the sun on the roadsides is remarkable. They are not busy roads and we take care to be facing oncoming traffic. However, in the coming days the road walking becomes less as we progress. 

If anyone wants to follow our Camino more fully and learn more about caminos we recommend the Gronze Maps app. We use this extensively, there are many facets to the app so you need to be adventurous and click on everything to experience it in full.

Leaving our pension at Escampiero 

The sheep in the paddock next door

Chapel of Fatima where we stopped for a sello and to eat breakfast.

Our rest stop in Paladin

Penaflor where some of the houses were built into the rock face.

Approaching Grado, this path went for nearly two kms so we were feeling the heat by the time we arrived.

Dinner at last, an Angus steak burger for Steve and Pad Thai for me.