We decided that we would start early the next day.  It was going to be hot, and we had to return to Deba by bus to start the Camino route again.  We were up early blurry eyed, made food for the day, and breakfast eaten quickly, only for the scheduled bus not to arrive.  It really was cold. An hour later, one did turn up and we are on the way back to Deba with the lovely views of the sea on our left.  Ironically, the Camino route took us back along some of the bus journey before we turned off the road and headed uphill.

It was at this stage that we had to bid farewell to the sea, as we headed inland.

Surprise, surprise, the day started with a climb.  Over 1,000 feet in 4 miles.  The route took us through pine forests along tracks and small concrete roads with little to no traffic on them.  As the temperatures rose, it became more of a struggle, but at least we were in the shade. 

That was until we met a beast of a hill with no shade during the hottest part of the day.  May feet had started to play up a while back, but she had to stop and feet experts Steve and Karen did their work with tape, blister pads and wherever else they could find in the first aid kit.  She was in a lot a pain and I have to say that I wasn’t sure that she was going to make it past this stage.  However, she is made of sterner stuff.

We reached a taberna called Zelaieta in Olatz which was quite frankly in the arse end of nowhere.  Even though we were carrying food and drink, the thought of fresh supplies was a real pick me up.  As we approached, there was little sign of activity.  Our hopes were dashed.  On the outside there was a little sign. 
‘ON THE MORNING OF WEDNESDAY 23rd SEPTEMBER WE WILL BE CLOSED’.  Yup, we had arrived in the morning of the 23rd.  So we sat down on the benches and ate our warm sandwiches, grateful of the fact that we hadn’t relied on this place for a fuel stop and happy for the shade. There is a tap for drinking water at this point

There are a lot of churches that seem to be so far away from any settlements and the San Isidrio church next to the taverna was no different.