Hiking the Camino del Norte || Deba to Markina

#hiking #spain #caminodelnorte
Route: Deba to Markina
Distance: 24.1 KM
Steps: 30,000+
People say this is the toughest stage on the Norte and they're probably right due to heart-stopping climbs and knee-crunching descents. And, there're only two water points and stops.
I woke up at 5:00 AM and got all of my things together in darkness. I slept reasonably well but the room was stuffy and noisy from the passing trains and traffic lights--there was a repeated beeping from a pedestrian crossing every two minutes or so.
I had breakfast and then we started the long hike. I soon went ahead but the distance and terrain got the better of me. Eventually, I slowed down to a painful shuffle. The final 5KM were brutal and the last descent was long, steep, and somewhat circuitous. I ran out of water and a kind man gave me half a litre.
Eventually, after crossing into Vizcaya, we arrived in Markina around 3:00 PM. There was a long, slow-moving queue at the albergue and I didn't get processed until 5:00 PM. Then, the heavens opened, the temperature dropped sharply, and I got soaked. That put an end to any plans to do any laundry and I ended up with a bag of stinking, sweaty, damp clothes. Finally, the weather improved a bit and I went into town for a Pilgrims' menu. I felt as if I needed to eat some proper cooked food.
¡Buen Camino!

[@KiwiJohn1951]

The forest walks are very similar to ours here in NZ, albeit better maintained.

[@allanshikhvarg5090]

PUSH ON PILGRIM!!!!

[@PhillipATowndrowHikes]

Thanks, Allan, for your encouragement. It's a long pilgrimage for sure!