Not much happened on Day 7, so if you’re here for drama, suspense, or emotional breakdowns …….. you’re out of luck. (Well, there was a tear or two in there somewhere, if I’m being completely truthful).
We left Bilbao and strolled a gentle 6 miles to Barakaldo, using the day as a semi-rest day. I think it’s called “active lounging.” Lol
Day 8 began with overcast skies, mid 60s temps, which = ideal hiking weather. It might have been nature’s apology letter to us? Thankfully, we were spared any serious hills for the next stretch. There were inclines, but they were polite about it. Very un-Spanish of them.
About 4 miles in, we hit a picnic area, chucked our backpacks like they were on fire, and embraced our inner trail hikers, snacking, sipping water, and pretending we were resting heroically.
Now, this would’ve been the perfect moment to “take care of business” (you know what I mean), but the steady stream of Spanish cyclists kind of ruined the vibe. They’re everywhere! Sleek, fast, and lycra-clad. If there were a Tour de Basque, we were definitely walking the spectator route.
Basque Country may have come at us with hills and heat early on, but we’re leaving it like lion tamers, with sore joints and smug smiles.
Our destination came quicker than expected (a Camino miracle), and we celebrated with a stop at a café where I had my first coffee since starting the trail. Cue angels singing. One cappuccino in and I was reborn. Never again will I forsake you, dear caffeine.
Never. Ever. Again.
We’re spending the night in La Arena, a quiet beach town that hasn’t quite awakened for summer. July and August are its peak seasons apparently, so I’m guessing we’re the pre-party.
Tomorrow we’ll cross into the Cantabria Region, where we fully expect another lesson in reverse physics: “What goes down, must absolutely, unrelentingly, go up.”
Our knees and hips are reluctantly cooperating. The shoulders? Oh, they’re staging a slow-motion protest. The first two miles are tolerable, miles 2–6 feel like a medieval punishment, and after that ……. your shoulders go numb, so honestly, it’s kind of fine.
Walk. Eat. Poop. Sleep. Repeat.
Xoxo, Kate
