“Life is better with a dog.” – I don’t know who said it first but many people have confirmed it.
Today was short and sweet just like this update is going to be.
I’m starting with the highlight of the day because it made me so, so happy. I got to play fetch with a dog on the beach. Be still my heart. I would love to have a dog but my lifestyle just isn’t conducive at the moment. This dog was so much fun. His owner says he is “loco” which is probably why we got along so well. He was pretty much my spirit animal. We played for about 5 minutes and we were both having the time of our lives. Stephen even took a little video for me. I actually cried a little watching it. I’m a softy. You can watch the video on my Instagram page @thewonderingwanderer.insta or Facebook at The Wondering Wanderer.
Camino – 5
Em – 4.5 I’m catching up.
We (the four of us are still together) had a lovely breakfast at the Albergue from last night. It was basic but very nice. Excellent coffee and toast with butter and jam.
We said our goodbyes to the kind volunteers and walked out the door about 8am. Today’s walk was another short one – 17km (10.5 miles) It’s our last day of hiking with Kersten and Michael. They are going to spend their last couple days of vacation relaxing in Burgos and then Bilbao before going back to Germany. I’m really going to miss them. They are heaps of fun.
I’m sure we will have another one of those goodbye morning coffees tomorrow that always make me want to tear up…but we must keep moving forward.
Today was an interesting hike. We took the long way (which really wasn’t that long) around the coast. The shoreline was beautiful. We walked through fields and farms. The smell of cows was quite strong but the views were stunning.
We walked several kilometers along the edge of the cliffs until it brought us to the beach. We walked at least 3/4 of a mile. It was a little bizarre since it’s Saturday. The beach was busy with families having picnics, surfing school was in session, and kids playing in the waves. Then there was us. A bunch of random pilgrims in hiking gear walking the beach. I felt a little out of place but the locals seemed to think it was normal. We even got a few “Buen Camino’s” as we walked. My shoes are full of sand because of the road leading in and out but I did get to walk barefoot in the surf which I absolutely love. I feel so connected to the Earth.
Then at the end of the beach we stopped for some drinks and tapas. Amazing mussels and octopus skewers. Then we got on, all together now, A BOAT! God I love this part of the Camino. They told us that tomorrow there is a train. Everyone must ride it to get across some bridge that no longer allows pedestrians. Supposedly, the police will give you a ticket if you try to cross on foot. I think it’s only one kilometer though. Still, three ferries and a train. I’m enjoying the variety.
Michael, Kirsten, Stephen and I are all at the same hostel. We are sleeping in pod beds. Dora is at the municipal. We all ate together at Mr. Wok. An all you can eat Asian buffet that Dora has been craving for two days. Which turned out was in a huge shopping mall near the airport. Definitely not a pilgrim site. We took a taxi. This Camino is anything but traditional. Dora said in Taiwan they call a buffet, Eat To Die, and that is what a buffet shall be forever known as from here on out.
We had a little trouble getting a taxi back to the hostel so we found some young teenage girls (hanging out at the mall on a Saturday night of course) to translate with the cab driver over the phone. They were so much fun and were very excited to help us. They even posed for a photo.
Add another point on the scoreboard for the bandana…wiping sand off and drying your feet after a walk on the beach.
Kersten has a dog named Penny. She is named after Penny on The Big Bang Theory.
Highlight again because it was the best: definitely my time spent with the dog. My heart sang a happy tune.
Tomorrow we are going to get serious about the hiking bit at try for 30k (18.6 miles). We’ve been taking it easy but I’m really ready to walk a long distance tomorrow. Burn off some energy…and calories from Mr. Wok.
Thanks again for following along on this long, strange trip.
Güemes – Santander – 17km
Goodnight and much love from Spain.
