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Bilbao
Mileage 60
The ferry crossing was fine. On leaving Portsmouth, it seemed as though we would have a significant amount of wind and turmoil on the sea. In fact, the sea was covered in white tops and standing on the deck was difficult because of the strength of the wind. There was as bit of a swell and some heavy bangs as the prow of the boat smashed into the occasional wave. Some heavy spray was also thrown up cascading down the sides of the ferry.
By morning, all of this had gone and we had, almost, a flat calm with only a gentle ripple on the surface. I rarely think and the depth of the oceans - it's just 'deep' as far as I am concerned- but one of the guides told us that just off Bilbao we cross two trenches that are about 2000 metres deep. The guides are there to explain and persuade us, the traveller, to take an interest in the whale! And that is what one can hope to see off Bilbao where the water is deep. For us, nothing like that! A large pod of dolphins did pass the boat but I only managed to see a few.
The ferry is comfortable. Even though it was full in the sense that they seemed to have squeezed as many vehicles as possible onto the boat, it was never overcrowded. There were seats a plenty, the restaurant was comfortable and there was not a queue. The food was good and tasty and well served even though we did feel a little that we might have been hurried along a little - to get another sitting inn before closure.
Our cabin was comfortable if not roomy and once we had a little heat in it, a good night's sleep was guaranteed.
We arrived in Bilbao in some sunshine as well as some mist and smoke. But the sun shone! It is a very rocky coastline with sharp hills and small coves. Exiting the boat was not for anyone in a hurry as it took nearly an hour before we emerged onto the port side. As it was, our van was perched on the rear of the boat in the open so waiting was not as bad as for others stuck in the holds. The police waved us through and we left to meet with the traffic of Spain we had been warned is manic and mad. The drive was a little fraught, as we could not easily see on our maps how to navigate our way into, through, and around Bilbao onto the opposite side of the river. But we did with only a couple of minor misdirection's. The traffic seemed to be, well, OK.
Our campsite, Camping Sopelana is on the side of a slope that runs down to the beach. Here are the surfers battling with the Atlantic rollers (little of that today) and us trying to level the van as well as fit it into a site designed for a much smaller unit. Never mind, we have made it and we even have some sunshine and a little warmth. The views are reasonable and the situation reasonably promising. By that I mean it is quiet and the site is not overrun with people.
So, we will stay, probably for several days so we can visit Bilbao and Guernica as well as the local town.
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