31.8 Km elevation gained 780 m.
We checked out of our Pension in Bilbao and headed to the awesome train station. If you see the huge stained glass window on Facebook it fills one end of the train station. We took a commuter train out to the suburb of Portugalete much closer to the Port of Bilbao so we could see the Vizcaya Bridge (Puente Colgante de Portugalete) or hanging transporter bridge. It's the only one of its kind.
We started walking in Portugalete about 10 AM and the plan was to only go to Pobena, however, we arrived there at 1 PM and Al just couldn't bear to end the day at 1:00 and we had been told that it was just another 14 km. It may have been to the outskirts of the town but certainly not to our Alberque which was on the far side of town past three beaches and two hills.
Interesting 10 km out of Portugalete, new awesome bike path and walker path filled with locals. Beautiful way to avoid freeways and provide recreations facilities to the population. Everyone in Spain is out there running, walking and biking.
The rest of the walk involved small paths through tall grasses, blackberry bushes and beaches with boardwalks and steep up and downs.
Eight and a half hours of walking after we got off the train we found the little Alberque at 6:30 and wouldn't you know it, It was full. It only had twelve bunks but the sweet guy in charge said he had a couple extra mattresses that he could put on the floor in the dinning room. So we moved the table to one side and I got to sleep under the table in my own little fort. After that another guy came and got the hallway so people had to step over him to get to the bathroom, others got tents in the back yard with the laundry lines but no one was turned away. I think we ended up with 20. Some were friends we caught up with who didn't take the rest day in Bilbao and a few new friends. It was 10 by the time we got showered , dressed, and dinner ( back down the hill). My little fort made for a great nights sleep. Up at 6 for another day on the camino.
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