I left Grado as the dawn was breaking. The lights were still on, and the town was quiet in the early morning. The route immediately starts to go uphill, and looking back, I had a good view of the town.
As the day brightened, I could see more of the surrounding countryside. The trail stays close to the motorway as it heads upwards. The total ascent is about 300m, with very few features of note. But in the coolness of the morning, it was a pleasant walk.
I passed Freisnu without stopping. Coming to Santa Eulalia de Doriga, I met some comrades of earlier days on the walk, and we continued together into Cornellana. The route allows the walker to skirt the edge of the town, but after the hill, we all needed refreshment, so we went on into the centre of the village. The village has a substantial monastery, but it was closed as we passed.
After Cornellana, the route begins to go uphill again. It goes through fields and forest, crossing streams on bridges from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries as it makes its way to Salas. I had booked an albergue on the edge of Salas, so I said goodbye to my comrades there. Once checked in, however, I walked into the town to look around and to get some lunch.
And today’s step count was 37,983.
Walkingman 