June 4 35 miles Castro Urdiales to Guemas

This was an eventful day for us in our little world of riding from town to town.  I made these notes as the day progressed and since it is now Wednesday afternoon, June 8th, I'll just fill in rather than try to sequence it all. 

Note: 2:50 Euros for wine and beer in Guemes. Cheaper than water. 

As we walk up the big hills our bikes become our burros carrying our gear!

Riding out of Laredo down a road towards a bridge we heard voices from the bus stop calling to us.  We stopped. They told us the bridge was closed for repair. No one could use it.  Hmmm. What to do now. Without the bridge, we would add another 18 kilometers to our ride. Ouch.  Or retrace our path to Laredo and take a boat.  The bus comes but the driver can't take our bikes.  Next plan: ride up to the bridge and see if the workers will allow us to cross. 

The folks waiting for the bus so kindly told us as they boarded the bus that they would drive around and come back for us if we didn't make it across - that we should wait there.  Wow. Such an offer.

We did cross the bridge and here's how it happened. 

We met this group of cyclists earlier in the day and stopped to admire the view with them. They took this photo of us:

Wouldn't you know that as we were trying to cross the bridge they appeared? Seems they had some clout with the boss and we were swooped up with them to make the crossing. 

The other workers said no but this guy has the authority and he walked us across, even carrying my bike in places. Pays to be a woman. 

Meanwhile, the mañ and his grandson from the bus stop were waiting to see if we made it across and we had a warm hearty "strangers are friends you have' met yet" kind of moment. 

Some notes:

Cloudy high 60s today

Less peregrinos on this route and especially as we are not always on the Camino path. 

Now we feel the Camino experience and the endorphin high

Staying in a casa rural in Guemas

Respect for cyclists even on busier roads 

Lots of cyclists with jerseys

Parenting- not negative , divert, talk softly, show love

7 pm - kids still up

Sitting outside watching the world go by 

The sociologist in both of us 

Speculate on life here

Remember back in 1984 - la careterra  esta cerrado

We hear that the best albuergue on this Camino is here  but no thank you! 

"No food until 8 or 9 . 3 beers and potato chips! We were starving!

People start eating at 8:30 until 11:30 pm. It's the Spanish way. 

We met a German couple who have  walked this Camino 10 times.

Tarta de helado con whiskey

Worth the wait!! 

We heard the cuckoo again! 

We're staying in a lovely posada rural in Guemes.

That's it!