Spain, Camino Del Norte: Day 9-10-11 Markina -Munitibar- Gernika- BilBoa

Well I made it, not so bad but still lots of steep uphills and downhills.My back is hurting but all else is well… ok so I am tired too, but well as can be. Views were great walking thru forest and hills with small rivers but the steep downhill was rough on my knee and cyborg turtle actually gave out —— she actually broke a strap and at one point was around my ankle coming down hill so with my Janeguyver skill (example Macgiver) I managed to patch it together but I don’t think it will make it up and down hill another day without serious fixing.

I had some small pieces of velcro I bought to lash my umbrella to my pack so that’s all that’s holding cyborg turtle together today. This knee has no strength cyborg turtle is only thing keeping it from breaking. This and the dreaded Camino diarrhea…..I swear I’m allergic to the water here – 4 trips before breakfast… I know tmi? Inquiring minds wanted to know details… this is camino life. I am no stranger to setbacks so this is what it is . Go to Gernika fix my leg brace then push on to Bilboa. Been there tried that decided to head to Bilboa but it’s weekend everything is closed except the Guggenheim museum.

I caught up with Carol and Keith pilgrims from Canada whom I met for the first time a couple days ago but were introduced to in the Camino forum. We had lunch laughed a bit before the tiredness started setting in so I wished them Buen Camino as I will unlikely see them again . They did very close to 40 km the day before and I cannot match their pace with injury so I go at my own pace. I admire and love them… tough peregrinos.

Tomorrow a bit of Bilboa exploration and finding a strap for cyborg turtle. Everything Irie as we say in Jamaica.