Day 8 Bilbao to Portugalete

A lazy start after very little sleep as I followed the election results with a break for sleep when I missed Liz Truss losing her seat. Disappointed on a personal level that Stewart McDonald failed to hold Glasgow South, hopefully he will return to the Scottish Parliament, a potential FM in my opinion.

I opted for the industrial riverside walk, extra, the Cicerone guide mentioned the metro which I felt was unfair. I enjoyed it and stopped for lunch in a delightful suburb with lively cafes and a green plaza, extra.

The main blip is the Hanging Bridge, or the Vizcaya Bridge which holds a suspended gondola that moves between the 2 banks. It cost 55 cents. Designed in 1893 it was the first of its type in the world.

Now fighting sleep. It’s a long day tomorrow and I don’t want to wake too early, breakfast isn’t until 8 and I’m not going to miss that. The forecast is cloud, some rain, and cooler so no need to avoid the afternoon. I got a reminder today of how energy zapping it is to walk in heat.

Zero pilgrims, although I did meet the young couple from Hong Kong as I arrived at the hotel, another excellent one with a dining/ breakfast room overlooking the river Ibaizabel. They bought walking poles in Bilbao. I don’t usually use them but on this Camino they have been indispensable most days.