We walked just 22 kms, from Gernika to the small town of Lezama, where we opted for the bus in to central Bilbao. We didn't want our last hours on the Camino to be on bitumen, dodging traffic.
It rained for most of the day - sometimes heavily, so I'm a bit light on photos from our final Camino walk but have added few from the many I took in Bilbao and a selection from along The Way. We spent just 24 hours in Bilbao. A big shift from the natural beauty we'd been treated to over the past six weeks, but a treat nonetheless. A city of extraordinary shape and colour, old and new. Wow!
Back to yesterday. We had steep climbing, muddy descents and misty grey views. And we loved it! On our sixth and last day on the Camino del Norte, we finally experienced that path as most others do. As a route that stays close to the coast, alternating between mountains and sea, the del Norte is most often cloudy and wet. But we'd had barely a sign of that until yesterday - so no complaints about the weather here, or for our time on the Chemin d'Arles, the Camino Aragones or our one day walking 'the wrong way' on the Camino Frances.
In the 43 days since we walked out of Arles with Guy and Martine, we've had to use our umbrellas just four or five times, including our final day. We've been grateful for the cool temperatures and cloud cover just when we needed them, challenged by the strong, icy winds high on the mountains in France, and delighted to bask in the sunshine when we reached Spain, especially on the beach in Zarautz - just a few days ago, one of our favourite days.
The weather has been just one of many blessings. We've met interesting people - until the last week, more hospitaleros than peregrinos - and a few memorable characters like Didier and Edna. After 43 days on The Way - 40 of them 'hiking days' - we've covered between 1000 and 1100 kms (haven't done the final count yet). We've stayed in 40 different gites, chambres d'hotes, albergues, pensiones and hotels - thankfully not too many dormitories with noisy snorers - mostly very comfortable, some quirky and wonderful, a few exceptional and all but two or three we'd happily visit again.
Most days the hiking has been challenging for one reason or another - terrain or distance or both. Or the pack feels heavier than the day before. A few days have been easy and a few just plain tough. But we've loved every day. We've had no illness or injury, other than a rolled ankle for The French and shin splints for me - both early on and neither serious enough to stop us in our tracks. Not even a hint of a blister between us. And no mishaps, other than our penchant for taking 'the road less travelled' - sometimes intentionally, but not always.
Just as with all the caminos I've walked - whether alone, with my dear friend Jill or with The French - every day I've wanted to keep walking. And every day I've appreciated how lucky I am to have the time, resources and good health to do this. I know The French feels the same. We've looked forward to each day unfolding, always new, always different from the day before, always an adventure.
And now we're looking forward to being home, in just a few days.
A bientot. Hasta luego. See you soon.
J x
