Primitivo - Day 6: Berducedo to Grandas de Salime (23.4km on 7/5/18)

Had a leisurely breakfast and left albergue ~7:30am.  First section was on one lane paved road and climbed. Stopped at La Mesa after 4km and had coffee then continued climbing.  Topped out and then descended on paved and then gravel forest road. We encountered a detour to avoid a 2017 wildfire burned area that added nearly 4km to our day.  The route descended into a steep walled valley mostly on one lane forest track and then after rejoining the camino route on a smaller track and then forest path until reaching the AS-14 two lane (quiet) highway near the Grandas de Salime reservoir and crossed over on the dam.  The AS-14 climbed steeply out of the valley for 6km where we entered the village of Grandas de Salime. Although it’s supposed to be larger than Tineo it seems much smaller. We checked in to Albergue Casa Sanchez, a small private albergue with a nice garden and common area, did laundry, had a simple lunch and relaxed.  

Doing my "homework" (diary, blog, etc.) with a very nice glass of Ramon Bilbao Rioja

Dormitory in Berucedo's Albergue Camino Primitivo

Countryside near Berducedo

Climbing on country lane

Nice piece of tortilla and cafe con leche

The marking for our detour - opposite side of river valley in the distance

View of Asturian's rugged terrain

The dam of the Grandas de Selime reservoir

After crossing on the dam we continued up out of the valley on the AS-14 highway.  We descended into the valley from the top of the ridge in the distance

Highway was quiet and a nice way to climb

We left the highway and entered the village on a quiet forest trail.

The albergue's garden.  Tall plants are "berza" (collards) and are a common ingredient in Asturian and Galician soups.