19/20 Sep and the sun comes out

Wed 19 Sep  A good evening in Deba with our first proper pilgrims menu. We had a lovely veggy stew to start with and then peppers stuffed with seafood. Pud was slightly strange as it appeared to be cold runny custard with a biscuit in it!  However, at 10€ inc water and wine it can't be too bad. Got off at 0645 and stopped at the bakers for a coffee and bun as well as some fresh bread for lunch. Plan was then to walk to Markina which was about 24 kms. A little wet at the start but it dried up by about midday. Much as I try not to compare this walk with my Camino Frances last year I must say that so far this is a tougher walk. Far more ups and downs and we went from 0 to 400m back to 200 then up to 450 and back to 100 and finally to 350 m for then end of the day. On the way mike showed a strange fascination for slugs feeling the need to point out every one. We got to Markina at about 1430 and the AdP was closed until 1500 so we walked on to a private pension but never found it!  At this point we decided to walk an extra 6 km to the next AdP in the book at Bolinar. Got there to be told that the AdP was actually another 2  km further on and that proved to be all up hill. Finally arrived at about 1600 having completed about 31 km in the day. However, this AdP is lovely and there is a promise of good food tonight. Off to Gernika tomorrow. No wifi here so this will not be posted tonight and the photos will also have to wait. One of the disadvantages of the damp weather is that it makes it difficult to dry our clothes fully so last night I slept in my socks to make sure they were dry for the morning. 

Last nights meal was good and not so good. The good was the tuna salad, then peppers then fish with a sweet cake for pus. The not so good was the local special of tripe in tomato sauce! One of the very few things I hate to eat is tripe. However, given the bill for two inc wine, beer, cheese and olives was 30€ it was well worth it. A great AdP last night with just the two of us in a room for four. Off at 0730 with our still wet washing on our bags. A good 19 km walk to Gernika and now at 1300 we have just finished lunch and are about ready to walk the last 8 km for today to the next AdP. This extra bit today will help reduce the books 32km route for tomorrow to Bilbao.