First day's walking, May 17

Hello, everyone.

As promised, another installment on the Camino del Norte this year.

Y'all may remember, last year we started out in Irun and spent the first night in San Sebastian/Donostia. This year we started out in San Sebastian, repeating two days' walk from last year, instead of either starting where we left off--Deba--or where we had started--Irun.

We crawled out of our beds in the pension in San Sebastian and got moving about 6:30 or so. We didn't eat there, but we had gotten a couple of apples to eat on the way, because pretty much nothing is open at that time in most Spanish cities and towns.  Just call it part of the pilgrim's sacrifice to go without coffee until later in the day when cafes and bars are open and you are in the vicinity of them.

 Looking back at San Sebastian, around 0700. The weather you see here was pretty much the weather for the entire day.

 On the trail between San Sebastian and Zarautz there is this welcoming little spot. It's done by a local Camino supporter out of the goodness of his heart. There is a little sign in book, there is a stamp to put a sello on your credencial, and there is a bit of water and a chair if the pilgrim is in need. Thank you, Camino Angel!

About noon we walked through Zarautz. We didn't stop for lunch, because we were only about 5 km from Getaria and wanted to press on. And we were looking forward to the lovely promenade walk between the two towns, with its shell themed railing and water views (with chilly breezes but this time no rain) all the way from one to the next. As y'all can see, the tide was out. It rises quite a bit here if that green line is reliable.

I did get a blister that day, because I had tied my shoelaces wrong, but other than that all was fine. And there was tape and gauze in my kit already. Preparedness is good.