Villanueva to Tonanes

Today was largely a case of retracing our route from the first day, pulling up a little short of Barreda at the village of Tonanes. We decided to make lunch the feature of
the day at the pretty port San Vicente. Our host at the Quinta de Villanueva recommended the “El Pescador” - we had a dozen grilled sardines, whole hake baked with asparagus and a large mixed salad (with the tinned asparagus common to all mixed salads here). Tasted pretty good and the bill with coffee and fizzy water came in at under €30. Saw a group of back-packers with guitars - looked cool though how you can handle a giant back pack and a guitar without breaking it I’m not sure. I don’t think mine would last a day.

Breakfast at the B&B was one of the best we’ve had. Fruit, yoghurts, cheeses, hams, Spanish omelette, quince jelly, cakes, eggs - in fact loads of stuff. First morning for a
while I haven’t had to do my own porridge.

With such little distance to travel we enjoyed the view of the mountains after breakfast and headed on out at about 11am. Took a different route in Unquera through the pretty village of Colombres, with it’s large villa style houses. Had to do the grotty bit out of Unquera for a couple of km and then over the hill to St Vicente for lunch.Coming out of St Vicente we hugged the coast by taking the CA236, which gives
good views of Cornish style sandy bays. It’s quite hilly but makes a change from the busier CA131.

Tried to get a cup of coffee in Comillas but got fed up waiting for
service - it’s pretty place but a tourist trap. Probably hell in high season. Once out of Comillas we were so close to Tonanes we pressed on.

If we did this again I think I would either get the train straight to Unquera or go to Cabezon and head south on the CA180. Can’t see the point of cycling the coast when the inland stuff is so good.