Guemes to Santa Cruz de Bezana

We started early this morning, racing down the road hoping it would take awhile before the sun could find us. It is a long game. In those first hours of daylight the westward rays reach out like long fingers, and our shadows stretch out far in front of us, prompting us to hurry and keep up. As the sun gains on us with its warmth, our shadows retreat under us, hoping we can shield them from him. Then in the afternoon, our shadows have given up, and we are dragging them along behind us, faces into the heat of the day, which can be blistering. And that is why we started early.

While the heat has not been kind, the light of today was simply glorious! We walked along a coastline that can only be reached by foot, and we celebrated like the roaring of the waves down below us. I’m sure the photos don’t do justice, but they will serve as a memory for me and bring me back to this place and time when I see them.

Once we reached the town of Somo, our beach walking was done for the day. We did some ferry hopping over to Santander, the largest and capital city of the Cantabria region of Spain. Cities can be a welcome sight to Camino pilgrims who need to refresh their stores. Cities can also be overwhelming. It felt that way today. Once Bonnie and I had made our stop at the bank, the pharmacy, and a small sporting goods store, we headed out of town, only stopping for a cup of coffee.

I hardly took any photos of the second half of the day. Nothing was as inspiring as the shore in the morning light and fog.

We did meet a pilgrim on the ferry rides over to Santander. The conversation went something like this:

“Buen Camino!”

“Yes, Buen Camino!”

“Where did you start today?”

“Guemes. And you?”

“Yes, Guemes. I didn’t see you in the Albergue.”

“No, we stayed with some Angels in town.”

“Where will you go today?”

“Santa Cruz de Bezana. You?”

“The town after that, Boo de Pielagos.”

“I’m Chad and this is my daughter Bonnie.”

“I’m walking.”

Laughing, “Yes, I can see that. We are too. Where did you start walking?”

“I started in Irun.”

“We did too! Funny that we are just meeting now while we are on a boat and not walking!”

“I am walking.”

“Yes, but not till we get docked, I hope!”

We talked more and found out that he too would be branching off to follow the Lebaniego trail and take it all the way to Leon. He was interested in our schedule and was intrigued that we were taking a day off in the Pico’s National Park.

“We should exchange Whatsapp connections,” I suggested.

“Yes, of course!”

“What name should I put in for you?”

“I’m walking!”

“How did you learn English?”

“My wife is from the States, and when she gets angry with me, she yells at me in English.”

“I’m beginning to understand why.”

I hand him my phone so he can add his number.

Joaquin may be a new walking partner with us.

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