El Campeón del Ronquido ("The Champion Snorer") was eventually extinguished by a Frenchman who couldn't bear any more about 2am and crept out of the dorm at 4am. I hope he found a nice sofa somewhere to continue his ear-splitting rumblings. After that- quiet. Up and out on the road early and breakfast up at the campsite out of town.
Annie has decided to continue her journeys by bus and we have arranged to meet at Comillas tonight.
A wonderful day of constant undulating hills, opening up sudden and unexpected views down wide valleys and in between hills to the sea. There are several scenic detours, including lunch on the beach at Luana Playa with a refreshing paddle and a steep track down to a lovely spring. The route travels mainly on tarmac with some pleasant dirt tracks connecting the roads. There are also some pretty steep ascents and I resort to the 'Zigzag Sherpa Mini-Steps' approach several times.
The crickets and lizards have now joined the Camino and the birdsong is a constant delight, especially in the woods. I see white egrets and large birds of prey too.
Mid morning I come across a sweet family of animals in a field; a young donkey, a few nanny goats with young kids, a big old dog and some geese. They all hang around together and when the donkey lies down the kids jump in his back and stomp around until he's had enough.
I've given up trying to gauge the journey or the distances; the del Norte app says one thing and the Camino another. The guide book gives instructions like "join the CA-131" but forgets to tell you that today you can walk on the beach! In fact I think the Camino is a simultaneous diversity of routes and no-one travels the same one. When I meet Christine later she tells me she didn't walk on a beach at all!
At about 3.30pm I meet Christine in a small village bar. I've stopped for a beer but her calves are feeling worse for wear and we stop to rest and do some stretches. As I come into Comillas I get a text from Annie to says she's booked into a nice Pension near the beach. I reach her about 5pm and have a hot shower; it's been a very long day. Pacer says I've walked 18 miles; I don't think it's been that much, but certainly feels like it. The journey took Annie 20 minutes by bus.
Comillas is a nice sea-side town and Annie and I go for a wander around and discover some real goodies- like a Gaudi palace called The Capricho! It has all his usual hallmarks of bizarre towers and chimneys, mosaics, twisting ironwork and is decorated with hundreds of sunflower tiles. The town also boasts a Gaudi gateway and lots of large villas for the rich and famous who once holidayed here.
After that we celebrate with a Menu del Dia in the main square and have an early night. I'm undecided about tomorrow... it depends on my legs.