An early night and an early start sets up a decent first day of 40km give or take a few miles. .. or kilometres ... since the stage is confusing, with marked routes leading to a stretch where the train is recommended for safety reasons ... experience confirms the danger ... in any case the first bridge available to pedestrians is at Puente Arce where the N611 runs, motorway and railway bridges being downstream ans shorter, but prohibited to walkers ... so, some hard shouldering is chosen since the 611 goes to Torrelavega via Puente Arce ... a tough enough challenge for feet with tarmac all the way ...
So, 7 am is coffee in Santander, 8, first breakfast of tortilla and coffee in the outskirts, 9, second breakfast of fresh orange juice and croissant and after the medieval bridge at Puente Arce a change to shorts since Sun has emerged from clouds and briskly to the impressive chemical factory ... the universe's way of offering contrasts, since beautiful Santillana is coming up ... a barber produces a proper pilgrim short shorn look, not shaven like the Buddhist monks, but short and comfortable ... then a quiet back road with protected pedestrian space all the way to Santillana, Claudia, a nurse from Germany met along the way as she was talking to a Basque cyclist heading home, having been robbed in Llanes ... checking in at the Convent Albergue by 2pm suggests the distance was more like 35 km, but still a good effort for the first day ... perfect timing for a shower, rinse some clothes and hang on the line and off for a filling menu del dia ... enough for today with a little fruit for later ...
The group which has been together along the Way is German speaking, except for Andrea, from Vigo ... as usual they speak English since she speaks that, but not German ...
Tomorrow a 7 am breakfast leaves plenty of time for Comillas or San Vicente de la Barquera, though the Hostel there has closed ... let's see what the morning brings ...
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