I would say today has been the worst regarding the scenery and quite tough, with a 20km stint without a place to stop.
It was about 0740h when I left the hostel, following the streets out of Gijón in the dark. It leaves old town past the quay, then through high rise residential buildings for almost 5km.
The city gives way to an industrial town, with steelworks and coal yards covering the landscape. Plumes of smoke rose from chimneys and lorry clattered past.
A constant clanging and general noise you’d expect filled the air and everywhere had a layer of soot.
The route rises up Mount Areo, but the view doesn’t get better, thankfully it enters woodland, but the sound is still with you for the next 8km.
The route descends into a vast green valley, that it cuts through until you join the main road into Aviles. I met Marcus from Germany, who stayed in the hostel last night. We were literally walking on the road side, with lorry’s thundering past. More metalworks lined the way.
After walking for 20km we got our first stop for tortilla y potata. A roadside cafe that is used to catering for drivers and workers, the portion of the tortilla was huge! Way too much for me to finish.
It was more road walking into the last 2km into Aviles where it follows the river and through a park. Marcus had reserved a bed in the town, so we departed ways. I still had another 6km to go.
Out of the town the countryside returned, the industrial hellscape came to an end and the Camino returned. I arrived at the donativo albergue, perched on top of a hill with far better views.
Stu's Camino 