Two Hoops on the Trail

Day 7 – 206 miles : Aínsa → San Sebastián.  Accommodation: Hostel (on-street parking) Day 8 – 100 miles : San Sebastián → Bilbao.  Accommodation: The Galicia (Hull parking ;)) Day 9 – Many nautical miles: Bilbao → Portsmouth As I write, we’re on a ship named Galicia, 214 metres long, 41,000 tonnes, and now 20 hours into the 36-hour return sailing from Bilbao to Portsmouth. Our phones are loaded with media, our bags are stocked from Lidl, and the ship has its own entertainment. The mood is good with the sun beating down and reflecting off the water, whale-watching is taking place on the sundeck, and its restful after eight days of continuous riding.  Extra entertainment came courtesy of Ken as he shopped to buy a gifts for his wife and daughter from the onboard shop. It has wide selection of worldly treats, but he’s tighter than a rusty nut and simply couldn’t loosen his wallet. We had a four-berth cabin, though only three of us slept in it despite four being on the ferry...