I'm behind on my blog....so this comes to you arly in tbe morning while sitting in my top bunk watching about ten people scatter around eachother to pack and use rhe restroom, I will wait till all are gone and be backed etc... In about ten minutes.
The walk from Castro-Urdiales to Loredo was one of my favorites. My guidebook says that if you take long route, having the time and energy that you would experience some of the greatest variety that the Norte has to offer....and I was not disappointed.
I would be one of the last ones out, I'd roll over from my top bunk glance down at Manuel in the bunk beside me but on the lower half and ask if he was awake....we were the last two still in bed at the auberge. I was happy to see him, when I came in yesterday after lunch I recognized his stuff there. Manuel is my young 22 year old German friend. There were still two people left near the bathroom area, one a French guy who in his day might have been a star football player but now just find of worried me physically, he would put on cologne tgat would fill the air....
The other oerson was a very bubbly, sweet happy gsl named, Nadine....close to thirty and just super excited about her Camino....I liked her energy a lot.
THE STORY OF THE SOCKS
So in my row of bunks was a pair of wool socks...on the ground, assume having fallen iff from the top of a backpack where they were probably thought to be secured to dry for the day. manuel, Nadine and I were the only ones left in the auberge. I am the one to find the socks. I wondered should I take these socks in hopes of finding their owner....I kind of knew they had to be Petra's, nice German gal or an okder gentleman who I had shared no words with but could recognize out on trail. I asked both Nsdine and Manuel if I should take the socks and both eagerly said, "yes" ( though neither offered to take them). I shoukd clarify "take" means to hokd into them in hopes of finding their owner. That seems kind of an obvious thing to do I know....but if I wanted to carry the weight of an additional pair of socks I would have packed another for myself, by doing so I coukd stretch a whole other day without doing laundry. True story....kast year a man walked for days with one lady's Keen Boot....he found it, knew its cost and hoped to find its owner. I was approached for atleast ten days from several people asking if I was missing a boot. I ended up eating dinner in Leon with a gal from Ukraine who said, "I lost a boot".... She could not believe that someone had been carrying it around.
I didn't want to really get involved with these socks....what would happen if I carried them fir days only to then leave them somewhere and this person approached me to say someone told them I had gladly saved their socks. I reluctantly put one sock in my right pocket and one in mt keft of my new Macabi hiking skirt with huge pockets....and I walked....
About an hour into my walj going thru the woods heading to the coast I heard sweet bells, I coukdn't see the source yet but it became obvious it was goats freely in the woods but accounted for by bells. This appeared magical and wonderful! As i got to the coast and was in what I assumed was private property I spotted an oasis of a bench with a trashcan near by and knew this beckoned oeople to enjoy the view...I felt sorry for those who might miss this opportunity as it was a gem!!!!! I had a yogurt bought the night before and sat there and relaxed. About thirty minutes later I see Manuel cone tgru the woods and I called to him fearful he woukd miss this spot. He takes his time and is someone who would definitly take his time here.
I started back up only to find another treasure about an hour or so later....
I walked thru the town of Islares And upon leaving it there is a small cove area....kind of a surfing feel that coukd not be more opposite feeling then the town I had just walked thru. I went there and grabbed a cup of coffee....bikers on Harleys came in...and thus was a trendy spot.
Keep in mind today is Sunday....I traveled in my bag with atleast five pounds of seaglass and rocks that my rock obsessed mental disorder caused me to do.
Upon leaving the cove there were some cars parked on the side of the road cheering on a griup pf cyclist in a race! This was huge fun!!!! the first group went by all serious but more just kept coming snd coming....hundreds of cyclist!!!! The front group was all serious....the middle group was all fun....they cheered at me, I at them....and it really was a high light to get so many screaming Buen Camino at me or other affirmatives!!!!!
I took the long way , up a hill...I'm not afraid of tgem now....
And met three Spanish locals out for a walk, I woukd guess in their twenties, they all spoke good English and we woukd stay together about an hour or so....
When they departed I was ready to hit Laredo but still had a long walk.
On approaching my destination my feet were done....I actually did nit know if I was going to stay in Laredo or catch a ferry on to Santona. The Harley guys suggested Santona so I was suspecting that. right when I started walking on the main artery thru Laredo I instantly run into Nadine, Petra and tge french gentleman from this morning....
They were all smiles and Nadine spoke up to say, "I told Petra you might have her socks!!!!". Petra was so happy but still not certain if I had brought them as I guess Nadine shared my reluctance. So I picked out one from one pocket....and told her I didn't know what to do, leave them or bring them....so I brought one....left one....poor thing her face was so confused and she said , well one is no good....and since my sunglasses were on I could lie easier...I said ,"well you'd think you'd be happy that atleast I brought one". I'll never know if she smiked and hugged me thinking this was the nice thing to do...ir if she realized I was joking....but as she leaned to hug me I pulled out the second sock.
They got me settled at the wonderful El Buen Pastor auberge there and we ran out for one glass of beer....
Nadine and Petra are suffering bad blisters so I knew this might be our last time together...
Manuel had shared he was not coming this far tonight and instead woukd stay in a town that suprised me some that people would stop at....but I also suspect I will jot see him again....
This is the Camino.....
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