A quiet day on generally dry paths, only some mud, so a big improvement on the previous days. Pretty hilly, with a cold start (below 10 degrees), but it was sunny all day, so it soon warmed up.
I met a lot of follow walkers including a Dane who now lives on Vancouver island in Canada. I also met a German living in Barcelona and two Kiwis living in Sydney, so now I’ve decided that I will call myself English living in Copenhagen (ref. an earlier post).
Today was also one of the prettier stages with fantastic views across the undulating and very green countryside.
There was a nice start to the day, as I followed the Urko river to the town of Markina Xemien, where many pilgrims had spent the night. I then followed the Artibai river as far as the pretty village Ziortza-Bolibar – birth place of Simon Bolivar, ancestor of Simon Bolivar. Born in Venezuela, he was one of the continents most prominent political figures for his leading role in the independence of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela from Spain.
I also passed the Zenarruzako Monastery, but did not visit.
At Munitibar I crossed the town hall square. The town was preparing for a bicycle race.
The rest of the day was up and downhill, passing various churches and some small villages.
I also passed a beautiful, ivy covered old bridge and flower decorated house. It was then uphill again, passing a hostel where I met the lady from Taiwan who walks backwards downhill.
I took a short rest in Olabe in front of the St. Thomas church, but was soon on my way again as I wanted to get to Guernica as quickly as possible as Lene was travelling to Bilbao from Copenhagen.
From Alangiz it was again small paths, a lady on the square pointed me in the right direction.
I made it to the bus station a minute before a bus was about to leave for Bilbao, so that was perfect timing. An Englishman was on the bus , he was from Dorset, where I was born, and will start walking tomorrow. We had a good chat.
A 27km day, with 725m elevation, lots of sun and fellow walkers during the morning.
Lene had arrived by the time I reached the hotel. We checked in, I put some stuff in the safe, but then couldn’t open it again, so we changed rooms, as the receptionist could open it using the magic key, but not doing it using a code. We started our mini holiday by going to the laundry. And the exchange machine ate a 5€ note without returning 5€ in coins ☹️