Everyone is experiencing trouble with technology today, so I am fully expecting the data to be massaged. Elke’s phone does not work with any step counting app. My phone’s step counter is telling me that I have not moved since last Thursday. Adelle has decided to make the journey via ‘vigorous typing’ as she has moved less than a kilometre in nearly five hours. Sounds like an excellent plan.

We will meet outside the cathedral in Oviedo and make our way to El Escamplero, a pretty little village in the hills. It is a journey of about 13 km/ 7 miles which you are welcome to make in any way you like. Look out for the bronze shells set into the pavement in Oviedo. They fan to a point, indicating the direction of the route of the Camino Primitivo, which we will be following.

So off we go…!

The first section for me was taken by exercise bike in my pyjamas, outside in the shade. It is a scorching hot day. I was pleased to see that the first of my courgette plants had flowered in the night. The bike is set against an old honeysuckle bush so it was nice to be able to cycle with some of the traffic fumes from the busy road behind me masked by its scent.

But before I left Oviedo, after downing some black coffee, I headed to the local art gallery, where there is a show of work by Miro. Here is a postcard I bought in the shop

The restful night’s sleep I was hoping to get ahead of this adventure was disturbed by the clatter of owls, nesting in the trees opposite my bedroom window. Very shrill, insistent owlets were accompanied by plainly irritated hoots from their harassed parents. I know from previous experience that this is likely to go on for a couple of weeks, until the owlets fledge. I may try to record the racket and post it here to give you an idea of what I have to contend with.

Thanks for joining me !