Total distance 158.8km
Daily average 26.5
Today’s accumulated uphill elevation 446m
Today’s accumulated downhill elevation 659m
There were just four of us at the lovely albergue in Eskerika last night and a very good night’s sleep was had.
I was on the road at a leisurely 08:15 for the fairly short walk into Bilbao. It was short but not particularly sweet. The majority of the walking was on road and the sections of track were not good to walk on. Because I decided to walk in shorts this morning, it started to rain fairly early on. Not hard but enough to necessitate a stop for wet weather gear. The shorts were OK – it was not at all cold.
I was very tired today, probably due to the long treck yesterday.
This odd mouse-like creature was wandering on the road today, it seemed to have no sense of sight and walked right between my feet.
There really isn’t very much to say about today’s walk. The donativo albergue in Bilbao is open, contrary to my guidebook information which stated it didn’t open until May. But when I looked on the map I could see it was a very long way out of the city centre, so I found myself a central hostal – The Ganbara in which I have a bed in a female dorm for six with ensuite, 17,10 euros including breakfast. There are also plenty of other bathrooms on the floor. And also a washer and dryer, so I have treated my clothes to a spin.
When I arrived at the hostal I was very pleased to see Alan and Niki were staying here, and since there have arrived a whole load of pilgrims I have been seeing over the last few days.
I will probably walk out of town tomorrow via the Guggenheim museum, rather than take the hike out there now. I am not planning to go inside as I have heard it is rather disappointing, but I do want to see the building. I am hoping to meet up with a blogging pal who lives in the city early this evening and with luck he will introduce me to some of the culinary specialities of the area.
Not many photos due to rain and lack of inspiration. So I shall showcase a few that got missed in previous posts.
Just back from meeting my friend. Went to the main square – Plaza Nueva for wine and pintxos – what a wonderful selection of deliciousness.
Trepidatious traveller - camino blog 
The food looks lovely! I hope you weren’t sore from your fall yesterday xx
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Keep on going, your doing great!, hope your blister & tumble has’nt dampened your spirit😀
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It was such an honour to meet you this evening and show you Plaza Nueva (Berria in Euskera if you want to impress people). Buen Camino! The Guggenheim and river is a much better route 🙂
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Oh I love that the two of you met! Such wonderful Camino connections… 🙂
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The Camino is awesome that way!
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I think the mouse like creature looks like a vole based on build, colour and it’s fairly blunt nose. What do you think? I’m afraid if it is blind it’s not long for this world…but voles are food for dozens of bird species (not that that will please the vole any). Have fun at the museum!
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The exterior of the Guggenheim IS the work of art – no need to go inside.
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Beautiful photos Maggie … and mouth-watering too! Those pintxos look so scrumptious! I really love the rain drop photos especially.
Take joy in every step –
Camino hugs –
Jenny xxx
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Feel like I am on the del Norte with you. Fabulous Blog!!
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Hello! Congratulations! 🙂
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Loving the blog – lovely to keep up with you
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I’m delighted you had a little fun this evening Maggie with your friend. You deserve a bit R and R
now and then. I wasn’t surprised that you were tired today, that was a heck of a hike yesterday.
Buen Camino.xx
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Keep it up, Maggie! Beautiful photos, love the flowers. Hope you are feeling well after your fall.
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No merece la pena entrar dentro del Guggenhein. Lo bonito es el edificio.
Merece la pena tomar el metro desde Bilbao hasta Portugalete y luego continuar andando hasta Pobeña. De Bilbao hasta Portugalete es una zona industrial sin interés.
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I loved the Guggenheim. Enjoying reliving my walk of a few years ago. Hope your leg holds out for the trek out of Bilbao.
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I love your blogs – the one on the Camino Portugues was a wonderful help when I did it last year – and I fully intend to follow your comments when I do the Camino Mozarabe next year. In the meanwhile, this Norte trip is serving as inspiration for the Via Francigena – commencing Monday.
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Thank you for visiting. Don’t mean to whine but this IS something serious. It’s my 12-y-o granddaughter with bad issues.
Glad to see you’re on your way again. Sorry I missed the beginning. Wish you good weather and wonderful hostels.
Love the pictures. So nice to see what you see. ❤ ❤ ❤
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So sorry to hear that Tess. Always more worrying when children have issues. I hope all is well with her very soon xx
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🐻 Sigh. Me too. Thank you, pilgrim.
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I hope everything is okay? Haven’t heard from you for a while.
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I admire you doing all this extra work. I myself have taken a lot of fotos on my Caminos but never got round to do much text .At the end of the day I enjoyed the company of the other pilgrims by cooking or eating together, visiteded a town if it was interesting or did my chores and had a good rest.
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I am really just keeping a journal, and I know that if I don’t do it as I go, then it will never get done. I do manage to multitask though and can put the blog together surreptitiously whilst chatting with others.
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