• 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
• 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
• 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
• Tuesday, May 15, 2018, Day #5
• Bilbao
• Distance 21.2 miles; total 81.8 miles
• 3,053’ ascent and 3,009’ descent
• 40% hard surface
• Time: 9 hours 40 minutes
• Weather: 60 degrees; overcast
Should I go or should I stay now? Goodbye Emily and Colette. Hello muddy shoes.
1st towards Bilbao
2nd towards Bilbao
3rd towards Bilbao
• Tuesday, May 15, 2018, Day #5
• Bilbao
• Distance 21.2 miles; total 81.8 miles
• 3,053’ ascent and 3,009’ descent
• 40% hard surface
• Time: 9 hours 40 minutes
• Weather: 60 degrees; overcast
Check primary source…fiction may follow.
My guide book said Lezama Hostel, 12 miles away, was closed until June. Sergio‘s guide book said it opened in April. We believe what suited our needs best; so, we went with the assumption it would be open. I should have telephoned Lezama Hostel and have gotten the information directly from the source. They were closed. A pleasant 12 mile walk became an arduous 21 mile.
1st towards Bilbao
2nd towards Bilbao
3rd towards Bilbao
• Monday, May 14, 2018, Day #4
• Gernika
• Distance 12.3 miles; total 60.6 miles
• 1,452’ ascent and 2,502’ descent; 30% hard surface
• Time: 7 hours 15 minutes
• Weather: 55 degrees; partly cloudy
End of the day,
Not much space,
And yet an abundance
Of good companionship.
1st Ibiri Auzoa
2nd Ibiri Auzoa
3rd Monasterio de Zenarruza
• Sunday, May 13, 2018, Day #3
• Monasterio de Zenarruza
• Distance 17.8 miles
• 1,934’ ascent and 1,811’ descent; 70% hard surface
• Time: 8 hours
• Weather: 50 degrees; intermittent rain
There are only 18 beds at the Monasterio and it’s first come first serve. Walking on the road is hard on the feet and less scenic. However, we could move much faster than slipping through the mud after last nights hard rains. Like all good things, the Monasterio on top of the mountain and we arrived to blue skies.
1st Monasterio
2nd Monasterio
3rd Monasterio
Remains of the “Mulberries,” cement piers for unloading Ally supplies.
These four French ladies are Pilgrims. But of course, they were walking on beach.
Big city…San Sebastián.
Affluent city…San Sebastián
Organic and natural.
Linda Scandore 