Camino del Norte Day 17 – Santillana del Mar to Comillas

After lording it up in a hotel overnight, it was back to the Camino, and what a pleasant day, no main roads! It was a little chilly when I left at 0730h – I could see my breath. The quiet streets of the rustic village were something from a fairy tale. My blister is lookingContinue reading “Camino del Norte Day 17 – Santillana del Mar to Comillas”

Camino del Norte Day 16 – Santillana del Mar

With the state of my toe it was prudent that I spend a rest day to allow it to heal and dry out. I booked a single room at a hotel near to the albergue. This will allow me to dry out my rucksack and rest my feet. The town is very pretty and aContinue reading “Camino del Norte Day 16 – Santillana del Mar”

Camino del Norte Day 15 – Boo de Pielagos to Santillana del Mar

You have good days on the Camino and occasionally you get a bad day, and that was today. The rain from yesterday carried on constantly. The customary hill to start the day takes you to the main road that you follow until the river. The route then follows the banks and cuts through modern villagesContinue reading “Camino del Norte Day 15 – Boo de Pielagos to Santillana del Mar”

Camino del Norte Day 14 – Güemes to Boo de Pielagos

The Camino is a great experience, and one that everyone should undertake, but there is cost that every peregrino must pay, and that is ‘Ampollas’. It was a long day yesterday and before I knew it, it was 0800h – just made it to breakfast. Coincidently it was the same time as sunrise. The viewContinue reading “Camino del Norte Day 14 – Güemes to Boo de Pielagos”

Camino del Norte Day 13 – Laredo to Güemes

Gronze warned it would be a long one today, and it wasn’t wrong. Broke the 30km mark for the first time on this Camino. A flat gentle stroll along the promenade for an hour to reach the ferry to Santoña. Hardly anyone about and the view across the bay in the morning Sun was aContinue reading “Camino del Norte Day 13 – Laredo to Güemes”

Camino del Norte Day 12 – Castro Urdiales to Laredo

The difference the Sun makes to a day of walking cannot be understated. Blue skies all the way today! It’s a small hill to tackle straight off the bat giving views back at Castro Urdiales and along the coastline ahead. Eventually it dropped to the coast, passing through a grove with goats weaving through theContinue reading “Camino del Norte Day 12 – Castro Urdiales to Laredo”

Camino del Norte Day 11 – Portugalete to Castro Urdiales

After breakfast we headed on out, up a hill as always – Neill and John took full advantage of the escalators (a common feature in the hilly towns) The route follows some impressive infrastructure. A footpath and cycle lane takes you over the roads, the motorways and an impressive spaghetti junction. About an hour andContinue reading “Camino del Norte Day 11 – Portugalete to Castro Urdiales”

Camino del Norte Day 10 – Bilbao to Portugalete

Poncho time again. The rain was still pouring when I left the hostel. The route pretty much follows one of the main roads from east to west of the city. There was a hive of activity with people walking their children to school and making their way into work – a mass of umbrellas. OnceContinue reading “Camino del Norte Day 10 – Bilbao to Portugalete”

Camino del Norte Day 9 – Larrabetzu to Bilbao

The rain arrived with a vengeance, hammering it down from the early hours and didn’t let up until a brief period in the afternoon. We grabbed breakfast at the bar, donned the ponchos and began Day 9. It was flat roadside walking for 7km before the start of the only climb of the day. TheContinue reading “Camino del Norte Day 9 – Larrabetzu to Bilbao”

Camino del Norte Day 8 – Olabe to Larrabetzu

After breakfast at the Albergue we hit the road, as usual it was up hill. Olabe is just short of the stage end, as Gernika didn’t have an Albergue. The 8km to the town I spent walking with a German pilgrim Nico. We had great conversations and laughter that made the distances fly by. MostlyContinue reading “Camino del Norte Day 8 – Olabe to Larrabetzu”