16/4 Saturday Hazas-Liendo to Helgueras 19km
Felicidad and Moeung left early, I had muesli that I was carrying with milk bought last night at the local store. Nina, Jaida and I were all ready to leave together so off we went into the very misty morning.

Just country lanes as far as Laredo where you enter town via the pretty old area. We found coffee and snacks and then Jaida headed off with an ambitious distance in mind. Nina and I headed for the long beach, shoes off and walked in the sand in continuing mist after 11am. It was about 5km to the river crossing where a small ferry takes you across to Santonia.

Clearly a popular trip is there was a queue along the sand including Luigi and Lale - nice to catch up with them and wish Luigi well as he was flying home that night.

Santoni was my original, rather lazy, plan at 12km. But I decided to message ahead to Helgueras and try to book a bed there. Nina and I needed sustenance so stopped at a cafe for more coffee (decaf for me) and cheesecake.

Soon there was more beach walking at Berria and then a route choice. Over the Alto de Brusco is described as, "not for the feint hearted" but is actually only a 200ft climb hugging the coast. Underfoot it was the most tricky 2km on the Camino so far - very irregular limestone and slippery, packed soil.

Down again onto the final misty beach of the day and into Helgueras to find the large Noja Aventura Albergue. Not the cleanest but still offering a €10 pilgrim menu - we will see! Sunday tomorrow so also bought supplies for the next day's lunch - who knows what options are ahead.