Terradillos de los Templarios to Santander

Sometimes (to mix metaphors), everything goes like clockwork, everything slots into place, and everything seems to be meant. Today was just like that for us!

We had a leisurely breakfast, said our fond goodbyes to Lucas and once we had packed we set off.

The walk to Sahagun was across more fenland-like terrain, the highpoint being when we saw a very wild looking pilgrim with a donkey camped by a small chapel.

At about 11:30 we got to Sahagun. We decided to seek out tourist information for options for onward travel. However, despite following the signs we just couldn't find it. Eventually, with the help of some friendly locals, we discovered it was in the Albergue. We got there just as it was opening and were shown a train timetable and given a map to the station. We also got our final pilgrims stamps for this trip. We will no doubt get a second stamp from Sahagun when we come back to complete the Camino.

When we got to the station, we were told that if we took the 2.05 rather than the 1.35 it would cost us €4 each, rather than €11 each. We chose to take the 2.05 and as we waited, across the platform, we saw the Austrian couple who we had shared a room with at the Dutch place. They were also on their way home via Pamplona. We wished them God's speed and a Buen Camino when they resumed.

At 14:05 our train came in. We climbed aboard and set off for Leon. The train took us through small towns and villages which we will visit when our camino is resumed.

Our thoughts had been to stay the night in Leon and travel to Santander tomorrow. However, we decided to look for the bus station and book our tickets for tomorrow. I asked a member of staff at the railway station in my best Spanglish where the bus station was. She replied it was just down the road, and pointed us in the right direction.

When we got to the bus station, we went to the information desk and asked about buses. The lady gave us a piece of paper like a till roll, that made no sense whatsoever. It did however, say it came from ALSA bus (the Spanish National Express), so we went to their desk and asked about buses to Santender. We got given the same piece of till roll. After studying the till roll intently we worked out that there appeared to be a bus to Santander at 3:30 (thirty minutes time), and it was faster and cheaper than the rest of the buses listed. We thought we might as well take it rather than worry about a bus tomorrow. We went back to the desk and sure enough there was a bus at 3:30 that would arrive at 7 pm, for the sum on just over €25 for the two us. The lady told us to go to platform 1 and the bus would appear.

By 3:40 no bus had materialised, but as we were not the only ones standing about, and I had been assured that this was the right stand for the Santander bus, we were not too worried. Eventually a bus appeared, saying Santander, but from a different bus company. I confirmed with the driver it was our bus. We climbed on board, found our pre-booked seats, and were away.

Initially, our journey took us alongside parts of the camino we had walked, and it was a bit strange seeing pilgrims walking along and wondering where they would be spending the night. Eventually we turned away from the Camino and towards the Atlantic coast. The scenery got bigger as we crossed the Picos. With a couple of diversions into small towns to pick up other passengers and a 10 minute comfort break in a town whose main industry seemed to be making biscuits, we arrived in Santander.

We got off the bus and went in search of a bed. The bus station is near the harbour and all the hotels were 3 or 4 star. We headed off and as we debated where to go, an English man out walking his dog, asked if he could help? We explained our search for a hotel and he told us that he didn't know of anywhere cheaper nearby. We therefore decided to go to the Abba Santander (the nearest three star hotel) and enquire about their room rate. If it was too expensive, we planned to ask the receptionist where he recommended. We were offered a room for just over €65, which very pleasantly surprised us, so we decided to go for it.

We are now in a fantastic room with all the mod cons. It is convenient for the town, the harbour and the bus to the airport. After showers we headed into town for food.

As we looked for food we kept on seeing places advertising accommodation, but we are pleased with where we are and will stay here until our flight home.

We also then kept on seeing on the pavement the way marking for the Camino North, a different route to Santiago. One we might take on another sabbatical!

Now off the Camino in Spain