Day 5 Markina to Guernica

After yesterday’s endeavours, the challenge augmented by appalling weather, by contrast today was joyful. It was dry 90% of the time and sun came out intermittently revealing an awe inspiring landscape. The day felt dreamlike and the 30k or so went way too quickly. I have no recollection of any tough ascents and of just a few tricky descents on the medieval stone paths, still muddy from yesterday’s rain.

My first break was at the Cistercian Monastery of Zenarruza, a serene place, a one eared cat the sole occupant of the cloisters, extra.

Later feeling hungry for the first time in a while I found a small cafe open in Munitibar. The tortilla was delicious and still warm.

The second half was just as rewarding, waking through farmland and small settlements awash with pink hydrangeas, a blue one here and there. Alongside water most of the way, the Roman Artzubi Bridge, main blip, is the only one in the area that survives, and almost obscured by vegetation. A boundary stone in the middle of the arch marks the border between Arratzu and Mendata.

I arrived quite late into Gernika just as a train was passing through the town centre. It’s a tiny bit tempting to hop on it tomorrow and spend the day sightseeing in Bilbao. Only if the weather is terrible.

Six pilgrims, including a chatty NewYorker, and a Danish mother and daughter. 30k and 1017 ascent, except it didn’t feel like it.