7/4 Thursday Markina to Olabe 18km
Although I lost the guys Albergue Andiketxe was comfortable, offered an evening meal and the hosts where so warm and welcoming. The best Albergue so far. I went out to buy lunch for the next day and found the gang at another Albergue in town so had a chat.

In the evening I talked mostly to Andy and Heike from Germany. But also a very interesting guy originally from Columbia but now running a construction business in Miami. He was with his daughter and had carried her rucksack for several km. His shoulders were so painful but his daughter was grateful!

In the morning, as usual, I was about last to leave as was Heike. So we agreed to at least start out day’s Camino together. We walked along the river and stopped for coffee where the owner was keen to impress her - apparently he was the village champion stone lifter!

Then it was gently up hill to Zenarruza Monastery at Ziortza-Bolibar. Here we caught Suzanne and befriended one of the old monks who seemed delighted to have his photo taken with us. Heike and I shared our lunch provisions - cheese and tomato sandwich, an avocado and an apple.

Gently down to the river again and we caught Susanne at a cafe in Munitibar about 6 km from our night stop. The last few kms are the hardest - Heike went ahead and I kept Susanne company to the Albergue where guess what? We met up with Johnny, Mika, and Heiko. Only Joe was missing as he had continued another 5km+ to Gernika where there was no accommodation available! He had to take a train to the coast to find a room! Maybe we will see him again.