Wed 25th Oct., Puebla de Sanabria to Lubian, 21 klms on foot, 9 by taxi.
This is not the post I had planned as the day started. I had intended a continuation of yesterday's "Connections" post, but it was not to be.
All being well I will return to that post, sometime over the next day or two or three, or not ...
Today started well. The walk out of Puebla de Sanabria along the Rio Castro, a tributary of the Rio Tera, was very pretty (and wet underfoot!!).
We even had sunshine for a while
We had high altitude road works to watch ...
road fog warning markers to walk by
(very) high altitude viaducto to walk over (I couldn't look over the edge - way way too high for me)!
a tunnel to walk through
But despite all that, the weather has beaten us. What the photos don't show is the howling wind and driving rain, or the freezing hands and drenched feet.
At Padornelo (altitude around 1400 metres and the highest point on the Camino Sanabrés/VDLP) we decided to brave the elements and walk the last 9 klms to Lubián. But the conditions were just too much. After perhaps only 200 metres we were heading towards being either more drenched or more cold, if that was possible, so we pulled over into a cafe and made the difficult decision to summons a taxi to bring us here (to Lubián). Tomorrow we'll return to Puebla de Sanabria, again by taxi. Not quite sure what happens after that. There are still hopes of resuming the walk from Ourense in a few days, but time will tell. Maybe it's all over ...
I'm being intentionally restrained here. My disappointment is palpable. It's the right call, but that doesn't make it feel any better.
Hi Peter and Janet!
What a bummer! But you made the right call. I just managed to make it to A Gudina yesterday afternoon, wet and miserable. Now holed up in the albergue, considering options. Definitely not walking today. Way too dangerous in this alpine terrain. Howling winds and incessant bucketloads of rain. There's no point. It is disappointing indeed. Take care, xxx Annelies
Oh that sounds like a tough miserable day. Rest well . Jan
Cruzo los dedos para que puedas tomar y completar tu caminata. Pero si el tiempo no acompaña, felicidades por llegar hasta aquÃ. Es un camino épico en cualquier sentido.
What a tough day. i can see Janet’s bare ankles, and that will be cold & wet. Are you able to get waterproof trousers and gloves, perhaps a beanie? It won’t fix everything, but will help. Buen Camino!
Really sorry to read of the nasty weather conditions Peter...hoping that things will ease off for you both....very much Not fun to walk into such strong winds and rain. Although a difficult one, a sensible decision to take a taxi for the last ks. Hugs.