My last day on the road as I return to Santander, where I started stage 4 in the spring. “Only” 29km and 600 elevation gain, so a fairly relaxing end to Stage 5 of my walk to Rome.
Two ladies at dinner last night told me that their weather apps predicted rain all day. Mine said it would be nice weather. Luckily they were wrong and it was a beautiful day to walk.
I left the hotel and found a place open for a coffee, before walking through quiet back country roads and small villages. Today I passed lots of different animals on the way. As I climbed towards Bareyo there were great views across the countryside.
I carried on along a main road to Guemes where I planned to stop for a coffee. I was the only guest and the owner was behind the bar talking on his phone, but after not being served for 5 minutes, I got up and walked out.
From Guemes I descended towards Galizano, and a baker that served coffee, before walking towards the coast. It was fitting that the last part of todays walk was along the coast. Six-seven kilometers with great views of the jagged cliffs, deserted beaches and sea on my right and meadows and corn fields on my left. It was a very pleasant walk, and being Sunday, I wasn’t alone.
At Loredo I walked along the Somo beach for a couple of kilometers, before passing through Somo and to the port where the ferry to Santander departs. Due to the low tide, it couldn’t sail for a hour or so, so I sat at the bar across the road and ordered a Pizza and a beer.
I’ve walked more than 700km, but the last 5 kilometers were on a boat, the 4th boat of this trip.
Safely disembarked in Santander I walked through the town and caught a bus to my hotel close to the airport. I celebrated with a single beer, my stomach seemed a bit on edge – for the first time on the trip I was feeling a bit under the weather. A great way to end.