Saturday 4 July 2015

JULY 2015 : SPAIN : El Camino del Norte : Day 5 : Gernika - Lezama (22kms - 7 hours with stops)

Distance walked so far : 118 kms
Distance to Santiago de Compostela : 694 kms

      

       



       

The perfect Camino day today. We both slept well, leaving the hotel at 7am with a cool breeze and 13o to start out. As there weren't any bars open in our immediate vicinity we had a coffee and pastry at the railway station.  

         

We walked out through the centre, to apartment blocks and then up a short rise into pine and eucalyptus forests. 

        

This is a sapling of an old oak tree that survived the bombing of Gernika. It is set in a park near the 
Casa de Juntas, the seat of the Viscayan Provincial General Assembly. We passed as we exited the town.

          

         

Many shaded paths, a few tricky bits but mainly straight, soft tracks in pastoral area.

                            

Confident local entertaining himself in the holidays. We thought this trick deserved one of our golden 
kangaroo pins.

                                             

                                                Many Basque issues on the political agenda.



                                  The attractive main square in Larrabetzu

We met up with some friendly pelegrinos, which helps to pass the time and distract you from the climbs. Quentin is a teacher at a Jesuit school in Alberqueque, New Mexico and Mick a professor at a Catholic university in San Francisco. Another very athletic girl we met is from Vienna, who had trouble finding single accommodation last night in Gernika. We have been chatting to a German couple, of about our age, who have had similar experiences on various Camino routes, enjoying the lifestyle and 
exercise.


 Mark opted to walk slowly, (disguised as Lawrence of Arabia with his doused handkerchief) and I came ahead to find the albergue in Lezama.



Close to the entrance of the town, the albergue sleeps 20. Washing machine (lavadora), cooking facilities, excellent wifi and close to a bar, small shop and restaurants.


                                     Two happy campers after another big day


   A local cafe provided a pilgrim menu for $8.50. 


M&M



No comments: