Stage 6: Bermucedo - Grandas de Salime 20km
Today is “the day after the Hospitales stage” and it’s only 20km but it’s a clear example of how things can go wrong. The day starts very cold and foggy but has a forrecast of sunshine in the early hours so I decide to wait for better temperatures to coincide with the activation time.
However, after reaching the beginning of the ascent to the summit I realize that I have left my hiking stick in the breakfast cafeteria in La Mesa, so I have to go back to get it (45 minutes delay + energy).
Upon reaching the summit, the weather suddenly changes to water-snow with clouds that together with the cold makes the activation dangerous.
Above activation start at 145,500 where two colleagues from Tineo @ea1cjq and @eb1asa are at the QRV for activation. The first changes in vhf work well but the weather is not good, even so I decide to start the setup for the HF and at the end the sun returns to give on the mountainside.
The activation of the geodetic vertex resulted in a total of 49 contacts in 73 minutes.
The rejoining of the road is after about 2km but it was easy. The whole stage is ahead of us and the weather is as changeable as the profile, where we find steep descents to the reservoir of Grandas de Salime and a steep ascent to the village.
Once in the city, a great meal and a rest allows us to go out for dinner in a better spirit to a wonderful place to meet with the rest of the pilgrims to discuss the stage.
Tomorrow’s stage seems long and with a continued ascent where the road passes very close to the jack planned to activate, Piedra Apañadas EA1/LU-015.