I think the four of us were the only people at this special auberge, I'm not certain if the gal who checked us in was a nun or not....but it had a very special feel to it, and no curfew! Granted I think we were all in bed by ten or so anyway but I like the idea of not being told when I have to be in especially in a large town.
Funny thing is when the lady showed me to my room there were I think five beds, one was taken and I assumed it was by Nadine or Petra, but it was actually Miquel, the older French gentleman who yesterday morning was in Castro- Urdiales....the one sporting the cologne and who Manuel thought was " the snorer" . I wondered why the gal thought to out me in a room with him until I realized that the girls were in a two bed room and when assigned who would know I was to arrive.
i joked with him, " do you snore?" , at which he tried to convince me he uses some kind of mouth guard and due to this he does not....he did offer me fresh ear plugs which I declined because I had some.
If he snored I didn't hear it!!!!!
I assume the snorer from the night before was not Miquel and that. Manuel accused the wrong guy!!!
I had a mission this morning and that was to send my sea glass and extra weight onto Santiago!
A postal serice was easily found, and about seven pounds were removed from my pack....
I have worn a Macabi hiking skirt for the past two days, while collecting seaglass I got tons of mud on it from my feet when I had to crawl up out of the cove area....by the time I was checked into the auberge there was no mud on my skirt and it looked as fresh as when I got it. Then last night within seconds of her only drink Nadine spilled her beer on it...it rolled off....
SO....with my seaglass goes all tights and other trouser items I brought, I will be hiking in only this Macabi skirt! ONE skirt all the way to Santiago!
I shared a breakfast with Petra whose feet are really hurting, as of breakfast she didn't know what she was going to do but she didn't seem too bothered by it, she has a lengthy vacation and in no rush.
I worked my way to the ferry to grt over to Santona, the place I originally hoped to stop. The square was so festive and a gentleman was playing an accordian which added to the mood.
In less than an hour after spending the morning skirting the Laredo beach I would be back on a beach in Santona where I chatted with a surf instructor about the fabulous climb before me over the hill to the next beach of Noja!
Noja is where you see the big pretty rock on the Ocean with arrow...
I wrote a love note to my honey there...." Neve Loves Steve" as I am thinking of him often knowing he loves the beach and the surf. Today would present many opportunities to speak to locals many with as many questions of me as I had of them. There was a place on the beach where water ran down to the Sea and I had no choice but to remove my shoes and socks....I feared getting my feet wet only yo return to putting back on my shoes might cause blisters, but all appears well.
While walking a naked toddler started heading down to the water, I was alittle anxious thinking the child didn't appear to be stopping but all of a sudden did when a naked father came running after him....then a few minutes later a couple dropped bayh wrap right infront of me and also went for a naked swim or atleast a romp in the cold water....
The beach was a maze of rocks that you had to meander thru...
Upon reaching Noja I cleaned off my feet and returned to socks and shoes.
I really liked Noja...
It was about three pm when I enjoyed a coke at a nice bar and skyped Steve....
I knew where I was heading tonight, the " Pilgrim Haven" of the Norte....an auberge in Guemes run by the local Priest and pretty famous in its right. I woukd be one of three pilgrims there, arriving about 8pm with an hour to go until a communal dinner was served. What a special place, I thought I would never get there, I glanced at the houses in town trying to guess which would be it, I felt like road was taffy candy that just stretched with each step I took. A huge green tractor came up behind me on the road and the farmer must have seen my face and gave me the universal " thumbs up", a nod and pointed in the direction I was walking. The few towns people I would pass would continue these sort of gestures and finally when I was about to just plant myself on the ground one said, " casa blanco" or "blanco casa".... Enthusiastically pointing to a karge white house ahead.
Thru those gates is a pilgrims paradise....a true labor of love, my guidebooks shares that it is the result of one mans dream, but it also credits this community for embracing this auberge and helping make it what it is. I was greeted by several of the locals doing just that, volunteers that come and hrlp make dinner, take shifts in helping and joining the conversation.
Miquel would be here, the French lady otherwise known as, " the lady who took my bed" and myself.
Dinner was fabulous and we sat around discussing Ernesto, the priest who started this auberge, his good to pilgrims and how it is growing. He never turns anyone away!!!! He has made room for 120 pilgrims in this 60 bed spot...ready to feed an atmy if them if need be with never any notice on how many will come knocking on his door.
I slept in a room by myself and slept well.
The big beauty of a dog here stayed near me....a true watch dog who knows no stress.
We all agreed to be up at 8 for breakfast and I had a leisurely start to my day!!!! Tomorrow is the big town of Santander!!!
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