Category: Norte

Point “A” to Point “B” ~ 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

Torn out maps and guide book pages are still kept in a zip- lock baggie in my pocket. I’m more apt to resort to GPS tracking for the Camino Norte. That’s me, the blue dot outlined in white. I’m heading to my hostel, a white “P” in an orange circle. Water crossing by ferry.

There are many variants and choosing the shorter route trumps even if it is on a road. After all, this is a 500-mile walk.

The monument is in honor of cartographer Juan de la Cosa, captain and owner of Santa Maria. He first hand witnessed the voyage of Columbus and created the first map of America.

1st toward Santoña

2nd toward Santoña

3rd Santoña

Bout Time ~ 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

Bout time I touched the eastern shore of the Atlanta Ocean. I’ve been admiring it for nine-days.

1st Laredo

2nd Laredo

3rd Laredo-Santoña Ferry

Like Walking on Water ~ 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

View of Santoña’s beach. An hour’s walk along the Santoña’s beach to the Santoña ferry.

Namibia and Saburo have become my walking companions since Bilbao.

1st Santoña

2nd Laredo-Santoña Ferry / Namibia & Saburo

3rd Namibia & Saburo

By the Ocean ~ May 18, 2018

• Friday, May 18, 2018, Day #8

• Guriezo

• Distance 18 miles; total 117 miles

• 1,779’ ascent and 1,806’ descent

• 95% hard surface

• Time: 8 hours

• Weather: 45-60 degrees; overcast becoming sunny

Most of today’s walk was by the ocean on a paved pedestrian path. The expense and challenge of creating walkways and tunnels designed for only pedestrians is mind boggling.

1st toward Guriezo

2nd toward Guriezo

3rd toward Guriezo

Too, Too ~ May 18, 2018

• Friday, May 18, 2018, Day #8

• Guriezo

• Distance 18 miles; total 117 miles

• 1,779’ ascent and 1,806’ descent

• 95% hard surface

• Time: 8 hours

• Weather: 45-60 degrees; overcast becoming sunny

Too little, too much. Castro-Urdiales was just a 9 mile, 3 hour walk. Too little. Unfortunate Castro-Urdiales was 9 more miles. Too much. There are just not enough hostels to allow flexible in distances.

1st Castro-Urdiales

2nd Castro-Urdiales

3rd Castro-Urdiales

Whatever ~ May 17, 2018

• Thursday, May 17, 2018, Day #7

• Pobeña

• Distance 16.3 miles; total 98.1 miles

• 907’ ascent and 986’ descent

• 100% hard surface

• Time: 7 hours 30 minutes

• Weather: 45-60 degrees; overcast becoming sunny

I can now debone anchovies with my incisors and welcome octopus for dinner. Most of the time I don’t even bother asking what I am eating.  Just give me tasty food and a glass of red wine and I’m well satisfied.

1st Pobeña

2nd Pobeña

3rd Pobeña

Magic Moment ~ May 17, 2018

• Thursday, May 17, 2018, Day #7

• Pobeña

• Distance 16.3 miles; total 98.1 miles

• 907’ ascent and 986’ descent

• 100% hard surface

• Time: 7 hours 30 minutes

• Weather: 45-60 degrees; overcast becoming sunny

Magic moment. Did I still feel tired? Sure.

1st Pobeña

2nd Pobeña

3rd Pobeña

Eiffel, Yeah ~ May 17, 2018

• Thursday, May 17, 2018, Day #7

• Pobeña

• Distance 16.3 miles; total 98.1 miles

• 907’ ascent and 986’ descent

• 100% hard surface

• Time: 7 hours 30 minutes

• Weather: 45-60 degrees; overcast becoming sunny

UNESCO Vizcaya Bridge. First of its kind. People and cars ride in a gondola beneath the suspension bridge built 1893 by Gustavo Eiffel. Service interrupted only once during the Spanish Civil war for four years.

1st Portugalete

2nd Portugalete

3rd Portugalete

Hard Surface Payoff ~ May 17, 2018

• Thursday, May 17, 2018, Day #7

• Pobeña

• Distance 16.3 miles; total 98.1 miles

• 907’ ascent and 986’ descent

• 100% hard surface

• Time: 7 hours 30 minutes

• Weather: 45-60 degrees; overcast becoming sunny

All hard surface walking wasn’t without reward. City streets with escalators. A suspected  gondola from suspension bridge. Followed by a 6-mile suspended road restricted to bikes and walkers towering over dozens and dozens of freeways while winding through green space. Can you imagine such a structure over the Washington, DC beltway?

1st Portugalete

2nd Portugalete

3rd Portugalete