A view from the Summit

A traditional Spanish breakfast began the day.....toasted bread with tomato puree, the best olive oil and lots of salt.  What could be better?  Only the views on today's walk! 

As we slowly wound our way out of the village, we encountered the spring run off which would hinder a good deal of our walk.  As the snow in the mountains continues to melt, the run off seeks the easiest path to run down the mountain...as were we! 

As we left the forest path and started to climb, we were rewarded with views...and all day long, one vista after another never failed to disappoint.

The clouds beginning to lift from the mountains.

A look at the town of Vega....the first of many small towns we would travel through today on our way to Cosgaya, where we would spend the night.  Every town a descent followed by a climb.  Today we would descend approximately 800 meters ( 2600 feet) and climb over 900 (3000 feet).  In addition, an extension route was suggested if time allowed, to Picos Janos.  This would add an extra 5 kms (2 extra hours of walking) to the summit of Janos Mountain.  Of course we did it....as if you even had to ask!

A group of mountain goats was our greeting party on the way into the village of La Vega

An old barn using whatever local materials they had in the second village we passed through, Bores.

Cool old tree in the village of Enterrias, our third village of the day.  Today's hike was a little more complicated to navigate as we went in and out of villages and on and off the regional hiking trails with multiple trails to choose from.  Fortunately we had a GPS tracker that buzzed us when we strayed too far from our route.

Shelagh doing her best Gangsta pose . . . 

After scrambling up the last 150 meters of mudslide to Picos Janos, we were rewarded at the summit with this view of the Picos!  Spectacular . . . but then we had to scramble back down the mud . . 

More views from the top of Picos Janos toward the Picos NationalPark

And finally, we arrived at our beautiful hotel outside of Cosgaya, where we were greeted by two massive, sleeping St. Bernards in the hotel lobby.

The reception committee hard at work!

Our hotel for the night was a little more posh than those of the last few nights but the hotel staff were equally friendly and welcoming.

Shortly after we arrived we enjoyed a well earned pint of beer, followed by a local white wine.  We then followed our now established sequence of beer, white wine, shower, cava before dinner and red wine with dinner. Another hearty traditional meal at the hotel tonight!