Getaria to Deba 19.5kilometers

No breakfast here, but we got away early, Viv cannot wait to leave when we are in an alburgue. We leave on a dirt track to the right up and down for 2k until we reach Akzizu.

There is nothing here for us either so we carry on to Zumaia. There are signs of civilization here so we stop for some breakfast. The beaches here are beautiful but we have no time to stop. (remember Viv does not do the sand thing). Still they are lovely to see.

Again at Elorriaga we come across a dichotomy; we can take the coastal GR-121 route (very strenuous ) or continue with the camino route. We take the easy way, less scenic and also 2.5k less.

Steep down to Orio

There is a lot of crossing main roads here before we finally crest a hill and get our first view of Deba. As always there is a steep descent down into the town, but I am told (by our guide-book) there is an elevator. Felt a bit stupid when we tried to go up in one of those automatic public toilets. Seems we were already at the bottom.

I tried to find Pension Zumardi by using my GPS,  but as the address was spelt wrong in the book, it just would not accept it. After passing over the railway twice and almost leaving the town, we finally found the tourist office. We were only yards from the pension, but we had to pass under the railway via a small tunnel.

We rang the buzzer on the gate and we were told to go through and wait. So we waited and waited some more, we were just about ready to leave when she arrived. Seems that the gate intercom is connected to her mobile and she was collecting her son from school. 60e a night, a bit steep for us, but there is nothing else around, so we stayed.

That night we found a bar doing menu and decided this would be a good place. We sat down in an almost empty bar, but soon it was full to bursting. The only seats left were at our table, and when two Swiss girls came in we invited them to sit with us. One of the girls had done many miles of trekking but the other was having joint trouble, this meant that they would not achieve great distances in the next few days, so we would catch up with them again soon.

After a week of walking it was time for a rest day, so we spent a day by the sea, in the true British tradition of sheltered from the wind and rain trying to enjoy Ice creams and beers.

We also had a sort out and sent some things home we do not use including my useless notepad. A kilo of useless technology. I am tempted to send home my Columbia “waterproof jacket” every time I wear it I get wetter inside than the outside. I didn’t and regretted it later.