I was ready to go as Iñigo, my taxi driver, picked me up at 8:00 to return me to the Liendo church, yesterday’s end point. The ride took 20 minutes. I was on my way to the Playa San Julien.
I was a bit worried about this part of the trek. My guidebook stated — be careful by the cliffs in foggy weather. Heights and I are not compatible. I thought for a moment of bypassing Liendo and starting in Laredo, the next major town to the west.
I stayed with the program. I did not chicken out. I was rewarded with brilliant sunshine and an unforgettable coastline. At the of this segment, I reached a gate that looked like others that I had encountered. Except I had to climb over this one! It was wired shut.
I was back on paved roads into Laredo which extends along a spot where at the end I took a “ferry” across the gap to Santoña.
In the meantime, I met a cow who looked quizzically at me. Laredo is in the background.
Then, Rhubie’s cousin; the second orange tabby whom I saw up close. She could have been her dopplebanger.
After walking through what seemed like the main intersection of Laredo, I decided to stop for breakfast. I had missed mine at the hotel because I left there at 8. Breakfast was served later because it was Sunday.
As I finished, the three Irish Amigos appeared. They had been dropped off a few minutes before at the main intersection. What timing. (No, they did not complete the missed segment.)
Off we went to reach the ferry at the end of the spit. The corniche fronted luxury looking apartment buildings and water front restaurants. As we reached the end, Paul spotted the ferry. I must admit that I expected something bigger and a dock. No dock, just the boat at the shoreline. The fare was 2.50€ cash like the other ferry I had taken.
We disembarked at Santoña and stopped for coffee; a Coke for Alan. I asked that if the restaurant had Wi-Fi (pronounced whiff-ee) and if they stamped the credential. No said the head waiter to both requests. I asked him to mimic the sign, no goal. All in good fun.
We walked for another 2 hours and stopped for lunch. Cerveza of course and hamburgers and pizza. Both were good. The hamburgers were rare. So be sure to ask for cooking time if you don’t want real red meat. I don’t know how to ask for a different meat temperatures. Rare is fine with me.
The restaurant also serves seafood. The shellfish were awaiting in tanks. Shrimps to order.
Over some cliff and we were nearing Noja. We had taken the short cut and ended on a beach with Noja in the distance. The sun had shone on us the entire day.
The church was my end point. We made it in another hour. Across from the church, cerveza grande of course while I soaked in the rays waiting for Iñago and his magic carpet to return to my hotel in Escalante. It was 5:00 PM. We had smiled all the way.
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