Norte – Day 10 Getxo – Castro Urdiales

The forecast today was for a pleasant day; ~ 65-69 degrees F with mostly sunny skies. We were not disappointed. With 28 KM to put in we started early, getting out of the Hotel at 8:10 AM. We enjoyed a pleasant walk along the promanade back to the river to cross the ferry bridge to Portugalete. After paying our 40 cents to cross the bridge/ferry we made our way up the steep city steets and experienced another novelty; outdoor moving sidewalks. This gave us pleasant boost up the hill.

We spent the better part of the morning walking a combination bike/walking path out of the city for ~ 8 KM. We were passed by countless men on bicycles. I guess cycling is a mans sport…. we have seen women riding bicyles in town, useually for getting to a destination as well as some pilgrims (both men and women) riding the camino; but as best as we can recall no women recreational cyclists.

As we approached La Arena the camino left the bike path and followed a rural road into La Arena, which is a small beach village. We spent nearly all of today on pavement, with only a mile or two in small doses of trail. While not ideal, it did allow us to make better time vs navigating mud or rocky steep sloaps.

We enjoyed a walk on the boardwalk out of La Arena and as planned took an alternate coastal camino route. This led us up the cliffside to follow an old mining train route that overlooks the beach and bay in front of La Arena. The views were amazing, some of the best thus far as we enjoyed the warmth of the day mixed with cool coastal breezes. Along the way we ran into a woman pilgrim from Germany that we passed a few times today. We spent a good half hour walking and talking with her. We did not get a chance to get her name as we became separated along a section of a busy road. Speaking of that busy road, we decided to talk the alternate route as it was shorted and followed the coastline more. However, this came with an unpleasant and at times perilous walk along a busy road that had no shoulder. One thing Spainards seem to be known for is driving fast and not yeilding any distance to pedestrians as they pass you. It appears to be a bit of a game of “chicken” and can be quite intimidating. Had we know how far we would walk on this busy, windy road with blind corners with no shoulder, we likely would have chosen otherwise.

Anyway, after a nail biting acent and decent on this road we finally reached the dirt road camino offshoot. It was a welcome site. The perilous route did have a nice reward of great views of the city of Castro Urdiales as you will see.

Castro Urdiales is a pleasant city, at least the eastern end that we have seen thus far, as we arrived tired as usual, and when our hotel presented itself, we eagarly ducked in to get a shower, do laundry and get a bite to eat. We hope to see some of city monuments in the morning on our way out of town.

We only have four more planned days of walking left. We have two “free days” next week before we head back to Paris where we have one day to see some sites before we return home. We may use one of those free days to return here or to another city. Or we may continue walking. In either case, I am sure it will be an adventure.

I hope you enjoy the pictures, the views were amazing today…

Buen Camino