The Battle of
 El Mazuco

Expedition log, Summer 2000

A summary and index of the Speleogroup logbook.

Fuente Dé, Tinganón, Fuentica, etc.

Date	Activity
04.07	It is eleven years since the last Speleogroup expedition to Spain; we meet, as in the past, at Bilbao airport, then head west on the new, toll free, autovia. Soon, distracted by a sign to Otañes, we head into the Eucalyptus for the first tinto in a long while. Next came a search for Cueva del Sangazo (OUCC 1966). After trying several not-so-short cuts we finally located it (details in log, coordinates in 2003 record). Athletic vaulting over gates and barbed wire caused not too much damage, and soon we were testing our latest gadget – a 3-LED lamp – in the resurgence and almost out of daylight. Sadly the upper entrances are now barred and gated. Into Castro Urdiales, where we stayed at the Hostal Vista Alegre and dined on Tapas and menu.
05.07	West to Llanes for lunch. Then a drive-around to refresh bearings (Pancar, Posada, Rales, Barro) and a walk around Llanes. Found and booked hotels (Los Rocas for 2 nights, then Los Molinos); dinner in Llanes tourist alley.
06.07	It’s Thursday, so with the promise of good weather (and the first tourist weekend of the season starting the following day), we decide to head for the high mountains. Arrive Fuente Dé at 11:15 to find a gratifyingly short queue for the Teleférico. Hot sunny day, but a strong breeze at the top, eliciting Quote of the Day from Bill: “I’m glad I kept my trousers on!”. A brisk, fine, walk to Refugio Aliva, arriving in time for lunch; fantastic views. Back to the cable via a different route, and then a slower drive back with stops at Bejes and La Hermida (where the bar has been completely rebuilt). Then Panes, Arenas, Cangas Roman Bridge at Cangas (with a stop to view the Roman Bridge, right). Then on to Arriondas to check out the menu del dia at San Remo, for dinner – to find the restaurant has now been replaced by a bus station. Not an improvement. Thwarted, we continue on to Ribadesella for good Hake at Rte. Las Vegas; an English couple sitting nearby provided amusement.
07.07	Bill in Tinganon Loaded up (moving hotels) and West to the farm at Tinganón (whose original road is now cut off by the roadworks for the new motorway and tunnel). A sticky walk to Tinganón lower entrance (45 minutes). Fine splash through the cave and back, with the occasional stop for photos, and Bill also takes photos at the top (raiding batteries from his 3-LED lamp). Out after 1.5 hours, ready for lunch. Excellent Fabada and Merluza menu at Mesón Miño in Ribadesella for just 1000pts each. Back to Llanes, and good dinner at Rte. Muelle (next to the bridge) which has been transformed up-market – though no longer serves the area’s best flan.
08.07	Festering day, though we did visit Rales, El Mazuco (new bar), and Meré, where a fiesta was in progress.
09.07	To Rales again, caving this time. Fuentica, happily without the squalid entrance pools. Eventually forced to beat a retreat due to deep water, near the pitch. Mike manages to impale a rib (in his back, this time) on a sharp rock while negotiating a small climb on a side exploration. Back out, and lunch in Rales. After the strenuous caving, we planned to reward ourselves with dinner at El Horno at Buelna, but it, too, proved to be closed and for sale. So, to El Retiro for a rather average meal (anchovies, and cooked meats for Bill).
10.07	Woke up to heavy rain, so we thought we’d try and get above it and walk up to Vega el Forcau (see 1976), above Los Lagos. Once up there, though, the clouds were still above us, yet were well below Forcau altitude, so a quick retreat after a look around. Many changes at the lakes: no camping at Ercina, new paved paths, the Refugio is closed, huge new carpark at Enol, etc. Bill has been feeling unwell since the previous evening’s meal. Back to Llanes to recuperate and a long walk along the cliffs for Mike. Dinner at Uria (Truchas and delicious Chuletillas de Lechazo).
11.07	Plan A (Cueva Pindal) quicky revised due to a massive traffic jam on the autovia. Plan B: to walk the Cares gorge. Arrived Camarmeña 10:15, before the road became blocked. A good walk to the highest point of the traverse, at which point clouds and rain were closing in so we returned to the car. Next we took the road to Sotres – spectacular scenery – where a cerveza was much appreciated. Back to Arenas for lunch (chicken soup for poorly Bill). Stopped on the way North West to explore a promising cave by the road (visible from lower down the hill). Flat and dry inside, and a ‘view to die for’ from the entrance. Mike explores (it didn’t go) and eventually gets back to the car, only to find he was not alone in the cave, and had picked up dozens of biting ‘friends’, who were obviously missing their goats. First attempts to dislodge them, at the Rales spring, failed. Back to the hotel, where full submersion in hot water eventually eradicated them, except for one or two lurking in Bill’s car... Dinner in a new Llanes restaurant: Siete Puertas. Comfortable, if a little touristy. Good food.
12.07	Bill feeling very ill, so we cancelled trip to Pozo del Infierno. Bill reappears briefly to watch Mike eat lunch, then again at 17:00 when we head for the new Ethnographic museum of Porrúa. Dinner at Muelle again.
13.07	Time to head East. Looked at Laredo, but ended up in Castro Urdiales. Bill actually eats lunch! Off to check whether Sangazo stream exit is accessible (it isn’t), then up the Guriezo road to look for Cueva de la Penilla (Cubilla), the sink for the Sangazo stream. After some exploring, we soon found a track down to the 60-70m high cliff and impressive cave entrance. We explored as far as seemed reasonable in everyday clothes. Excellent expedition dinner in corner of the Castro square, by the port.
14.07	Had a little trouble finding the new Bilbao airport, but Mike made it home (followed by his caving gear, two days later).

Personnel: Bill Collis & Mike Cowlishaw.

Other log details: Exchange rate 180-ish pesetas/GBP.
Hotels: Castro 6000pts/night, Las Rocas 6000-8000, Los Molinos 7000.

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