Category: Norte

Santillana Del Mar ~ May 23, 2018

• Wednesday, May 23, 2018, Day #13

• Cóbreces

• Distance 14.5 miles; total 171.7 miles (including 2-minute train ride crossing river)

• 1,628’ ascent and 1,459’ descent

• 100% hard surface

• Time: 7 3/4 hours

• Weather: 55-65 overcast

Santillana Del Mar, a huge tourist destination. Arrived and departed before the tour buses.

1st towards Cóbreces

2nd towards Cóbreces

3rd towards Cóbreces

Not Leading, Not Following ~ May 22, 2018

• Tuesday, May 22, 2018, Day #12

• Requejada

• Distance 13.5 miles; total 171.7 miles (including 2-minute train ride crossing river)

• 1,146’ ascent and 1,154’descent

• 90% hard surface

• Time: 7 1/2 hours

• Weather: 55-65 sunny

Not leading. Not following. Just walking. I have broken the standard stages so I no longer walk with the daily pilgrim pack. It’s too easy to walk at their pace, to make their right turns, or to make their wrong turns. I do not feel the burden of conversation. Today I feel the most at peace with myself because it’s just me.

1st towards Requejada

2nd towards Requejada

3rd towards Requejada

Santander ~ May 21, 2018

• Monday, May 21, 2018, Day #11

• Santander

• Distance 13.5 miles; total 155 miles (including ferry ride)

• 611’ ascent and 856’ descent

• 20% hard surface

• Time: 5 1/2 hours

• Weather: 55-65 sunny

Santander is described as the most lovely and third largest city the Camino Norte passes. As a wave washed over my boots, it the perfect time to dry boots and find the largest ice cream cone…hazelnut and coffee…and a manicure!

1st Santander

2nd Santander

3rd Santander

Earth’s Smell ~ May 20, 2018

• Sunday, May 20, 2018, Day #10

• Güemes

• Distance 12 1/2 miles; total 141.5 miles

• 936’ ascent and 734’ descent

• 100% hard surface

• Time: 5 3/4 hours

• Weather: 55-60 sunny

Farm smells of cow manure and freshly cut grass. I don’t find myself turning up my nose. It is a different smell, natural. It smells of warm earth. Dairies dominate the area.

1st toward Güemes

2nd toward Güemes

3rd toward Güemes

The People ~ May 19, 2018

• Saturday, May 19, 2018, Day #9

• Santoña

• Distance 18 miles; total 129 miles

• 1,044’ ascent and 1,046’ descent

• 100% hard surface

• Time: 5 1/2 hours

• Weather: 55-60 degrees; overcast becoming sunny

Perfect timing. Celebration in the plazas.

There is a pervasive gentleness about the people. I haven’t see adults in discourse, parents raising voice to children, or children having a melt-down.

I have not seen poverty nor have I seen what appears as mass unemployed persons.

1st Santoña

2nd Santoña

3rd Santoña / Saburo and me by hostel.