We got up at about 7:30 AM in Villaviciosa and we were out of the hotel at 8:00. We walked about a block and encountered a wonderful bakery and had to stop for breakfast. I had a glass of fresh squeezed orange juice and a chocolate covered cinnamon twist.
The Way took a while to get us out of town but after about 45 minutes of walking we were out in the countryside.
The Camino Del Norte is hard with a lot of long stretches with no support and a lot of steep hills to climb. The Primitivo is even harder. You had better be young and in good shape to tackle the Primitivo. Marco and I didn’t even think about tackling the Primitivo. I know some of you think I am crazy for doing the Norte. Me trying to do the Primitivo would be insane.
At one time this area was covered with old growth oak forests. All these old growth oak forests were cut down to build the ships for the Spanish Armada. Someone once asked the King of Spain where all his country’s oak trees were. He said they were at the bottom of the English Channel. The trees that they are logging now are eucalyptus trees. These trees grow quickly and are used to make paper. I wish they would regrow the oak forests.
When we got close to our final destination for the day, we had to climb a very steep hill. This hill involved an increase in elevation of almost 600 yards and we had to walk about 2 miles to get from the bottom to the top. it was a very arduous climb.
The owner’s name is Magdalene. Her grandparents developed an agricultural estate in the Peon valley.
Magdalena spent last year building the absolute best alburgue on any Camino. She gave me a 45 minute guided tour of her establishment and everything is first class. There is a huge dormitory room with enough bunk beds for 60 pilgrims and it is air conditioned! She built all new separate bathrooms for the men and the women. There is a new indoor common room for the dormitory and a new kitchen.
Marco and I are staying in the old estate house.
The owner of the alburgue gave me a laundry basket and told me to fill it up with all our dirty clothes. She then took me down to the washing machine and showed me how to operate it. She is unbelievably nice.
Dinner was soooo delicious.
After that we had a salad and ice cream for dessert. I am stuffed.
I hope you are having a good day wherever you are. Good night from Peon, Spain.
AbeAndMarkontheCamino 
We are so glad to see you now have clean clothes 🤩🙋♀️ Keep up the good pace – hugs from A + P
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We are so glad to see that you now have clean clothes🤩🙋♀️ Nice walk you had today- keep up the good pace. Hugs from A + P
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