Day 10 Laredo to Noja 11.2ml 479ft – Totals 146.4ml 19208ft

Well the theory about booking the week ahead at the Pilgrims office in Laredo was a good one, however, the gentleman there wasn’t the slightest bit interested in helping us out. Plenty of accommodation all along the route in his opinion so it was a lost cause.
One coffee and one hour later, after ringing around numerous full hostels and hotels on the route we managed to book a hotel in Noja, well within our planned walking distance for the day and sitting right on the Camino route.
Today’s route took us all the way along the massive promenade at Laredo (in a huge curve, very reminiscent of Nice, I thought) and then at the end of the promenade we had to catch a 2 euro ferry across to Santona.

Leaving the ferry we walked straight through Santona, stopping off for some seafood Pintxos on the way (surprised to find they are still called Pintxos here, I thought that was only in the Basque region) and then a long flat road in the blazing sun. I almost thought I was back on the meseta on the Francis for a minute. Suddenly in front of us was a 300ft hill consisting mainly of sand. 300ft up and down doesn’t sound much but when it two steps up, slide back one step it’s surprising how hard it can be 🥵.
Worth it though, if only for the lovely treat on the other side where we were able to take our shoes and socks off and paddle all the way, over a mile I should think, into Noja.
Feet were very greatful and fair do’s to them, they’ve earned it over the last couple of days.

Eating out in Noja tonight I spotted a vey nice dish I had eaten previously. It was a big plate of scrambled egg and mushrooms and this one also had “chaca y gulas al Ajillo” in with it. My phone translator failed to translate this bit so I thought oh well, it’ll be an extra treat with the scrambled egg, whatever it is. The meal arrived with some chopped up crab sticks in the egg and I thought ah, so that’s what it is and proceeded to tuck in. Half way through I noticed the silver worms they had also added to the dish NOOOOO !!😮😮🤢.

We’re heading for an Albeque tomorrow in Guemes. It’s run by a priest and by all accounts it’s something a bit special. 70 beds so surely we will be able to squeeze into that one 🙂