So, after a breakfast and a final chat with our fellow pilgrims, we set off on our final day.  This was a short day.  The last section into Bilbao was through industrial estates, so we stopped at Larrabetzu after 7 miles.  Given that our flight had been move forward by several hours, we wanted to have time in Bilbao to have a look around.

Leaving this place was difficult. It felt like this was the truest part of the walk. Staying in nice hotels with comfortable beds, lovely sheets and your own shower is all well and good, but the community feeling of this kind of auberge means a lot.

Saying good bye to Mindi was a bind as well. I really want to get a dog one day and she was just amazing. It took me ages to get a selfie with her, but I’m really glad that I did.

The sunrise and the view that greeted us on our last day was a gift. Hazy sunshine, slightly cloudy sky and silhouetted mountains in the distance.

As we left the auberge and wandered up the country lane, an old lady was out on her drive offering the walkers food and drink.  We’d only been walking for 5 minutes, but for those who had stayed over in Guernika, it would have been a wonderful surprise.  These random acts of kindness really do fill you with joy.

Lifted by the lack of miles until we finished, we sauntered through the woodland along the lanes and paths, taking in the last of the countryside. 

This was probably some of the best countryside we had seen, a fitting way to finish.

This photo sums our week up for me. 5 friends going for a long walk together. We made each other laugh. We talked about daft stuff. I got to talk to Steve properly for the first time in ages and it has to be said that he had a great influence on Nick and I doing the long runs we have done. We got to meet May properly and understand the absolute bundle of joy she is.

So, we did it. Over 30 hours on our feet, over 83 mils in total and over 13,000 feet of climb with rusk sacks on our backs, the sunshine on our faces and with some amazing memories in the bank. If we don’t take Richard’s advice and leave it too late, it will be such a shame. We must not do that and we will be back one day soon.