We are still alive! We arrived to Bilbao in 6 days, completed 167 km and almost 5 thousand meters climbing. The terrain is like hiking in a hilly forest in addition the sea often appears from the right. The old, experienced fellow pilgrims told us that the Camino Norte is the toughest as you have to climb and descend a lot. We witness it! :) The climate is a bit rainy, cloudy, sometimes sunny – such oceanic.
Our typical day starts at 6.30-7 a.m., then a quick packing, breakfast (if provided) and leaving around 7.30-8 a.m. If breakfast is not included we first go to a bar and drink a café con leche and some pastry. Then 5-8 hours march what we break occasionally for a short meal and rest. If there are no villages in the stage we eat what we bring, otherwise the menu is a glass of beer and tapas (Monika often exchange the beer for a coffee). The tapas are better and there is a bigger variety than in Madrid. My favorite is the omelet and sausage sandwich, such perfect for hiking!
We arrive to the hostel between 3 and 5 p.m. If it opens at 4 we have to wait. After shower, cloths washing and some feet nursing at 6 we are ready for a supper. It is a fault as the restaurants open at 8, that’s why sometimes we live on tapas and wine (both are excellent!) :) Our stomach shrank enough that we happily get by on this diet for days before we start to linger for some proper meal. This time we wait until 8, but it is very trying as you are very hungry and want to be in bed very-very much. After 9 the pilgrim room gets very quiet everyone gets to the bed early, as they are dead tired and want to be fit for tomorrow.
We manage it but it always hurts somewhere. The downhill ruin your knees and heels while the concrete hurts your sole and ball. Before leaving I bought a pair of walking sticks (I just call them clutches :) ), with these I support my knees enough that I can complete the daily stages. The human body is wonderful, it is amazing how it heals itself, though every day another body part wearies.
A typical Albuerge (Pilgrim Hostel)
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