Stage 8 Onton to Laredo

I'm exhausted, walked for 11 1/2 hours today. The text will follow tomorrow.

Additional note on 23.09.2021 from yesterday's 'adventure stage'.

In the morning, it started off innocently, as it is with most adventures.

From Onton to Castro Urdiales, everything is normal. In the port, I have a second breakfast and decide to turn on Komoot... and I see this beautiful trail that I had planned from home. It deviates from the Camino, but I decide to take this section to Laredo, which is also shorter than the distance the others have talked about.

Passing very close to the coast, instead of at a distance.

I miss the entrance twice, or rather, the path that someone had previously taken with Komoot is closed. But now I remember Martin, my friend from Duisburg, the 'Wadenbeisser' (calf biter), who would not have given up either.

And indeed, the 3rd attempt brings the breakthrough and is wonderful, passing right by the cliffs. I can watch anglers sitting high up and letting their fishing lines hang about 50 meters deep into the roaring water.

After Islares, the 2nd challenge awaits me. I started a screenshot of Komoot on the image gallery so that it can be better understood.

At the first junction, it looks like I would have walked over the water for quite a distance. (I have been walking the Camino for a few days now, but I'm not there yet).

It was low tide and there was sand all the way to the other bank at that spot, what a shortcut. But it was like in Holland, halfway there was a Pril, not wide - maybe 3 meters at most - but deep, estimated 2 meters... (not tested)... so I turned back.

Then came the 2nd attempt at a shortcut; the plan was to jump over the small stream that is marked, but the rio Aguero is wider than expected and even deeper than the previous Pril, so back again.

Then my gaze falls randomly on the elevation profile of my remaining route, and there is a short section that is challenging. Here, too, a small screenshot. The trail arrows are no longer yellow, but black.

Good thing none of the family is here... 'Papa and his shortcuts.'

Once at the top, I am rewarded for my efforts. Griffon vultures (as Monika told me yesterday) circle in the air, a spectacular sight.

On the descent, I use a walking stick, quite literally; I take out a hiking pole that makes the strenuous descent more bearable.

After that, it's still quite a distance to Laredo. It goes uphill again shortly before, but no comparison to the 'Passo' (mountain pass). The arrows are yellow again.

At around 7:00 PM, I arrive at the hostel I pre-booked. First, a hot shower.

In the evening, I sit with a group of pilgrims, including acquaintances as well as Juan, Christopher, and Franz.

We exchange our daily experiences and plans for tomorrow. Then the others quickly get up and say goodbye. They checked in at the monastery, and the nuns were very clear that it closes at 10:30 PM. But it worked out for everyone.

------- What a day.