17th July 2023

Isaba to Zuriza
Zuriza to La Mina

This was a double legged day to try and gain some time and give me a bit of leeway for the bigger mountain days.

Most of this section was spent walking through a ravine and valley. Pleasant enough, but not inspiring. I bypassed the alternative route which ascends Ezkaurre a fantastic looking peak, which also looked really tough. I felt a bit disappointed to miss out on this, but needs must. I needed to make up time at this point and the detour would have cost me a full day. Ursu the Swiss fella I met really wanted this, but he had time to burn.

So after failing to properly find the campsite (it was just up the road, but if I’m honest I was impatient to press on. Such a hot day though. I stopped for lunch in a broad valley under the trees. Cooking up my trusted super noodles and drying out my soaking tent. It was such a lovely few hours, just sat there relaxing.

I didnt realise though how hot the rest of the day would be. The route followed the valley (allowing me in for a dip in some amazing pools) before heading on a long uphill section. My first proper ascent of the trip.

I resorted to hiding behind rocks to get out the sun and soon ran out of water as I hadn’t refilled my hydration pouch in my pack. Stupid really and something I wouldn’t do again as I learned my lesson well.

La Mina wasn’t quite what I was expecting. By time I reached there I was getting tired and the sight of lots of parties of young adventurers was a bit of a shock. I realised I needed to press on a bit more. In this case I was looking for a stand pipe by the side of the road, to top up with water and find a suitable wild camping site before it got dark.

Where I found was perfect, although it was my first overnight encounter with the noisy cow bells. The stream proved great as a washing and bathing area and to say I was alone was an understatement. Properly off grid.