What a wonderful day of walking!!!!
I feel so much stronger, and am back where I enjoy longer stages.
Mendi was outside of my hostel at 8:30....at 8:38 I was packed and ready to go!
We would along the river, on the otherside of the Guggenheim museum, I enjoyed this stroll and enjoyed the city one last time. We walked to the outskirts of Bilbao and he stayed with me to a town called Portugalete,super cute town with an amazing cable system to get you from one side of the river to the other. Our route enabled us to make this system as I. Had to cross the river to get to the town.
Mendi and I ate a quick lunch, he had to return back to work and I couldn't have felt more blessed to have had his company for the morning walk.
I would venture out again by myself....for a whole ten minutes and beside me would appear a young German fella, age 22 who looked Spanish and reminded me so much of Mason from last year. Just a precious yiung man, in super shape and he made me step up my pace which honetly felt pretty darn good. My new friend has walked the Camino I think two times....he is fresh off a break up with a gal who he has been with since the age of 14, broken hearted and walking with a ring he planson leaving in Santiago, a " promise ring" he said. This kiddo has the World at his feet, works in the airline business, travels aound the World for free and I jst wish he saw what I saw for his future, it is bright and happy!!!! He just started his Camino in Bilbao and stoppedsooner than I did at a beach town where he hoped to get some surfing in.
I would continue thru Pobena for a lovely lunch and attempt to go another stage to Castro-Urdiales.
The walk after Pobena was someof the most beautiful views of my life....it was a lengthy walk literally among the coast....I stopped and fed a horse some saved bread...he seemed so out of bis norm, on a cliff with no flat spot to graze, I loved on him for awhile.
I sought any chance to sit and watch the Ocean.
This is what makes the Norte the Norte!!!!!! And draws pilgrims such as myself for this long journey to Santiago.
My attempt to Castro would fall short the sun would go down, and a bridge out post storm added to my kilometers today so I had to retreat from the hill between Miono and Castro and ring a door bell to a beautiful pension that could have been a Bed and Breakfast in wine country Virginia .
The owner greeted me at the door, I had poor WIFI , was the only one there and slept like a Queen....
35 Euros for a wonderful bed , hot shower beautiful breakfast and lengthy conversation where. Neither of shared a word in common but used all sources including my IPAD to translate and converse. This in itself was very draining....but wonderful...and as I left he put on his raincoat and walked me down the driveway asking me a million questions making sure I was packed right, dressed right etc....
Carlos was his name...and I would be forever grateful that I didn't make it over the hill the night before that I got to meet him and his wonderful Pension!
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