23/4 Saturday San Vicente to Colombres 17km
A good night’s sleep followed by breakfast of orange juice, tostada con tomato set me up for the day ahead. Unfortunately the forecast was for heavy rain and strong winds. For once I hoped the BBC gets it wrong.

By lunch time it had rained continuously but without too much wind. However, I was feeling cold so was tempted into the bar at Muñorrodero (after 10km) to see if I could just buy some warm soup. Typically Spanish I was told food was not served until 1pm.

The menu del día tempted me both with fish soup and roasted goat meat. The weather wasn’t tempting me back outside so I decided to wait for 1pm and food! Giant portion of soup with loads of prawns and fish. The goat was broiled rather than roasted I think. Rice pudding to finish. By 1:15 the place was heaving with the elderly and families. I was lucky to have arrived and ordered early.

Off into the drizzle, it was fairly flat and mainly along a railway line until Unquera. Then up a steep, paved hill and the increasingly exposed position coincided with the wind increasing significantly. Thankfully only bringing light drizzle with it. I could see worsening weather ahead so increased my pace for the last km along the high ground into Colombres and Albergue El Cantu.

I received a somewhat brusque welcome here, it was cold and there was no access to wifi from the dormitory and no access to any communal space before 5pm. So a quick shower and into bed to warm up.

Ah, the communal space proved to be a table and 6 plastic chairs! So off out to explore what turns out to be a one-horse town but at least I found a bar open!

Colombres is my last stop in Cantabria. Tomorrow I’ll be walking in Asturias. Perhaps the weather will improve?