Hello, everyone.
Yesterday, after our really, really long day of walking over the ridges of the Hospitales route (ten hours of walking, oh my!) We had a shorter day in the route plan. We walked from Berducedo to Grandas de Salime. This involved a really long descent, with some level bobbles, in increasing wind gusts as we went, to the dam Embalse de Grandas de Salime, across the top of the dam, then up to a bar for a sip--much welcomed!--and on to the town.
We didn't realize it at the time but the region was on a gusty winds warning. (Learned that later while looking at forecasts!) It was really windy and I started wearing my Buff like a kibbutznik lady's scarf. It looks a little funny on me to have the front of the buff below my hairline but it keeps the hair out of my eyes and gor a bonus keeps the cold winds out of my ears.
Regarding the gusty winds, the gusts got stronger as we approached and began crossing the dam. The winds were roaring down the canyon! The last fourth of the distance across the dam we got hit with gusts that had to be well up into tropical storm force winds. They nearly blew us over backwards. A young fellow was passing and he asked me, as I clung go my poles and bent nearly double and even reached for the sidewalk, if I was okay? I told him, I am fine it's just that the wind is too strong. A few seconds later the gust faded and we all beat feet to finish the crossing. We have never felt such strong winds before.
That was enough excitement for one day. We walked the rest of the way into town, got a couple of beds in the Albergue Porta de Grandas, paid for a wash and dry load--so happy to find the lady offered this service!--and went to find food. We found Galician style octopus, shared a group serving of this delight, and called it a night.
Kilometers for the day, since we stayed on the road at the end instead of climbing the official path up and over, probably about 25.
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