Hiking in Torla

Saturday, August 10th:  The views and hiking remain impressive.  Today, the gang walked from Torla down the river valley to the town of Broto, about 2.5 miles.  We walked the left bank down (~500 feet), hung out after visiting a bakery at a riverside park, and returned home on the right bank.  The return home was rather strenuous since we had to climb up above a large land slump.  The trail went straight up about 400 feet, then straight down 200 feet and finished rising to Torla from river level.  All told we had nearly an 800-foot elevation loss and gain, over a total distance of 5.6 miles.  It remained cooler in the shade of the trees, but we were sweating on the elevation changes.  We went directly from the trail to the pizzeria and rehydrated with our new favorite drink - Aquarius on ice, lemon.  We all retreated to our homes for showers and relaxation.

Here are a few photos from the hike:

A park sign connoting a 100 year something.

This area is on one of the several Camino Pilgrimage routes.

We also were on another GR route, specifically 15.2.  The GR's (or Grande Randonnees) are a system of French hiking trails that are scattered all over France (and evidently cross into Spain).

A Broto hotel, with a handsome timber-framed entrance (mortise and tenoned wood beams and columns).

Looking at downtown Broto from an defunct stone bridge -- the opposite embankment is directly across between the buildings and below the white structure.

More timber-framing.

Mural, duh.

Looking down just above the top edge of the land slump that we had to climb around.  It doesn't show much but the river is at the bottom.

Torla from the high point on the return trail.

Betsy and Ron watching where we put our feet.

Torla again a little closer but less 'telephotoed'

Jan, Dennis, Leslie and Ron on the trail.

Additional thoughts on this area. The trail we hiked yesterday in the National Park was extremely popular.  Hordes of people of all ages (and lots of families) were out enjoying the views.  There were even a number of dogs (on leash).  We think small dogs could be carried on laps during the bus ride into the park, but large dogs had to travel in carriers in the luggage compartment - we witnessed some grumbling when they were shifted into the cages and joy when they were released.  On the other hand, Ron and Jan (who took the high road) encountered only 4 people on their trail. 

According to the conversations we overheard, and the license plates in the visitor lot, most people coming to this park are Spanish.  We heard very few English speakers.  Thankfully most of the hospitality staff speak enough English to help us.  We had one curious encounter on today's trail:  a woman (German-speaking) asked us how to say "dog bite" in Spanish.  She didn't seem to have suffered a dog bite and we didn't see any aggressive dogs, so the request will always be  a mystery.