10/4 Sunday Bilbao to Portugalete 19km
I’d bought milk so used some of my muesli supply as breakfast. Then I was out and heading towards the river. Just after reaching the river I saw an interesting church spire about 100m down an alley so decided on a detour. The church was ok but what was special was meeting Mira there! An amazing coincidence after yesterday. He had seen the spire and had the same idea.

We bought bread at the panadería for lunch later. As we chatted and walked on it turns out he did not know about the Guggenheim so he was in for a big surprise. We walked there together and then split as I was keen to walk around in my own time and take photos. I even headed up over the high bridge nearby to get a different view and then along the far river bank and back across for my much delayed morning coffee. Oh and the largest almond croissant I’ve ever seen!

After my touristy morning I headed along the east side of the river towards the sea along with lots of Spanish folk on their Sunday promenade. After about 3km there were fewer people and the riverside was looking much more of industrial decline.

After about 10km down river from the Guggenheim Portugalete comes into view across the river along with this amazing gondola bridge structure similar to the one in Middlesbrough - very rare and a World Heritage Site. So across the bridge and up through town to the Albergue Bide Ona.

After settling in I meet Vincent, a French guy I’d first met way back at Pasajes. He is with Cecilia from Argentina and Iris from Holland. We all head out for beer and a Mexican feast as the Albergue does not offer an evening meal. Good company.