Camino Pilgrim

I woke up super late since there was no defined time for pilgrims to leave the albergue. Most pilgrims were still there eating breakfast at 9am when I left.

My right ankle is doing a lot better today. I spent over an hour yesterday taking care of both feet after all. The only thing was that I was unable to gather the proper walking speed. The going was a bit slow compared to normal.

The hilly landscapes around Isla were really nice. It felt like a shame that the route temporarily led to a highway where the paths connected near Bareyo. Northern route options here are hillier and longer, but closer to the ocean and with a better view.

My choice to go to Ajo felt perfect. Although I was slow, it was still what I would imagine a full day on asphalt should look like on the Norte. Charming green hills filled with all kinds of animals. After passing Ajo, there was some hill challenge which really exhausted me internally. It felt like I was pushing my body way too hard today.

Once near Galizano, I had a choice to make. Either I walk the scenic northern route near the ocean again or go in a complete straight line along the highway. By that point, I was certain that if I went north then I would not make it to Santander today. I already had a booking made and had agreed to meet up with some pilgrims here on this day. I did not want to let them down, so I chose the highway route.

The legs felt like they were slowly starting to freeze over. Shorts were not a good decision for today. It was not raining, but there were constantly some clouds blocking the further distance. I had to rest at a bus stop, not sure if it would be a wise idea to keep walking along the highway. Then suddenly a bus came in front and I asked if they were going to Somo. This is the first time I have skipped part of the route on the Camino using a bus. That few kilometers on the bus made me already feel a bit better.

We stopped right near the boat harbour that brings travellers from Somo first to Pedreña and then to Santander. My hostel is right across the street from the harbour. I managed to grab some food from the store when it started raining. Its been pouring heavy rain for hours now. Police are on the streets to make sure that no one gets injured.

I’m glad I did not freeze in the rain today. Otherwise, I will be in an even worse shape tomorrow.

I have no idea how far I will go tomorrow. The closest ablergue that is open is 37km away. I will walk as far as I feel comfortable with and then look for accommodation options. There are plenty of hotels around this area, no albergues though.