Friday 3 October 2014

ASTURIAN ADVENTURE LAND

If you're looking for wild nightlife and non-stop entertainment, then Asturias isn't for you. This region is an outdoor adventure playground, rugged mountains and coastline, secluded beaches and white water rivers - a perfect spot for the LegsyBoys to spend a few days!! We're staying in the VERY sleepy village of Corao, surrounded by natural beauty.






First up, we follow the banks of the Rio Sella to the beach resort town of Ribadesella. Immediately we notice something odd - parking is FREE everywhere (in fact throughout most Asturian towns). Its sweeping beach with its mountain backdrop is sheltered and beautiful, so Don L pulls up a shady chair whilst la familia indulge themselves in the sea.






Looks cold doesn't it!
This region is noted for its caves and archaeological significance. Cueva de Tito Bustillo contains some of the world's most valuable pre-historic wall art; sadly, it's closed during our visit, but we manage to find nearby the amazing La Cuevona, a natural cave that allows one to drive (and walk) through to the other side - fascinating.





We head east along the cost to explore some of the real jewels of the area - tiny, secluded beaches. Playa de Guadamia is exquisite, a tiny stretch of tidal sand with FREEZING water that entices los ninos to have a paddle. We leave here under threatening skies and cross the coastal mountain range into Benia de Onis, a little village in the middle of its August fiesta, the perfect place for us to wind up our first day.

Beautiful Playa de Guadamia




Freezening!!
Award winning local cheese in Benia de Oris

Asturian clogs - bizarre



Day two and we are in Arriondas. It's the starting point for the Descenso Del Sella, the internationally renowned canoe race downstream to Ribadesella, which is due to take place the following day for the 78th time. Needless to say, the LegsyBoys (and hundreds of others) are up for a challenge and hire two canoes to tackle this white water demon before the pros get their shot at glory. The rio runs under 4 bridges and by the time we reach the 3rd  we've paddled seven kilometres! We universally agree to paddle on to the 4th (and final) bridge, forgetting that it's a further seven kilometres away....Don L wanted to continue on to the river mouth (only another five km) but los ninos were spent and so I reluctantly succumbed!!


Very popular activity

The Fab Four

Good luck chicas

Having a rest....

....and a bite to eat - very civilised

Fun for all the family!

Change partners

Aimee excitedly waits for dad to get in!


Superb technique from the boys
An hour later, we are all having difficulty moving our arms, legs and any other body part that is normally meant to function with ease - on the back of the exertions from a few days earlier, I confess that we were desperate for some less strenuous activity. We head to  Mestas de Con for dinner. It's pouring which is a real shame as it washes out the village fiesta, although we do  get to see the local round of the Asturian Concurso de Bolos Championships - bowling that is a curious combination of ten pin bowling and bocce. Whilst the locals clearly took it very seriously, visitors were easily identifiable by their nonplussed smiles, especially when contemplating the ball return chute!

Traditional dress

The bolos prize - much coveted!

Very odd...

Letting rip

Note the high tech ball return chute on the left!

A hit! And the crowd goes bananas!!!!

Dulcinea and Aimee are clearly impressed by the ball chute

A fiesta washout - what a pity
At dinner we get to see Asturian cider being poured from 'on high' for the first time - crazy people these Asturians!



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