Bilbao Sports & Outdoors

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Day 9 - Portugalete to – Castro Urdales – aprox 33k Our original plan was to split this day into two and stay at Pobena, but as we arrived there at mid day, Stevie felt fit and that Marianne was already at Castro Urdales we decided to bash on and walk the whole 33k in one day.
Pleasant route and soon after leaving Portugalete you pick up a new purpose built “Leisure Route” which takes you the 12k to Playa de la Arena, from here you walk through the dunes and cross a river just before Pobena, then up a flight of steps and onto the track bed of an old mineral railway, this is an excellent route which contours along the cliffs to Onton where you have a choice of “Ways”, The original route takes you over the shoulder of a mountain, but we had been advised to follow the now quiet N-634 (now quiet as there has been a new parallel but higher up motorway built) into Castro Urdales

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After taking advice from the Hospitalaro at the Refugio we were told that it was better to walk to Portugalete following the river rather than going the “Traditional” route over the mountain – The main reason for this was that by following the river we would avoid having to walk part way alongside the new motorway as well as it being a more pleasant route – So we took her advice and indeed it was a nice route, first following the river through Zorroza, then through Burcena, Retuero, Baracaldo and Sestao before arriving at Portugalete.
All on fairly minor roads and not a bad short days walk

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A Short day starting off on minor roads passing through Zamudio and then one steep Up and Over on good paths over Alto Vivaro and Alto Curabiolando, then onto minor roads dropping into Bilbao and then first through suburbs, then the past the Basillica de Bagona and then down into the old city, visiting the cathedral then over into the new city and through that to the suburb of Basurto

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Another Excellent days walking, leaving Guernica and again the usual stiff uphill pull to the top of Morga pass, here the route levels out somewhat and then undulates, at first on a mixture of good paths and forest tracks before dropping into Golkologea (Drinks and Snacks available in bar here) when the route then goes on minor roads passing through Larrabezua and on into Lezama

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Excellent days walking through some Very Remote countryside as we leave the coast behind, starting of from Deva with the usual very stiff pull up to The Ermita de Santa Cruz where the route levels off slightly before climbing over Arnoate (Arnoate is the Basque word fro Pass) After the pass the route undulates, mainly on beautiful forest paths and tracks but also with a small amount of walking on minor roads before dropping down into Marquina to Jemein

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Another pleasant if unfortunately Very Wet day, Starting off with a fair climb out of San Sebastian then undulating on minor roads and good paths before dropping into Orio for Lunch, then one more up and Over again on good paths and minor roads to Zarauz

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Pleasant start to the walk, soon leaving Irun and walking through a nature reserve before climbing and passing The Santuario de Guadalupe, then following good paths, dropping to Passajes de San Juan and taking the ferry to Passajes de San Pedro then crossing The Collada de Mendiola before dropping into San Sebastian.

This is probably the most popular basque sport.
The ground consists of a smoth floor and two walls diplayed in a 90º angle.
There are diferent cathegories:
-Cesta Punta a.k.a Jai-Alai: It´s played with a basquet in the right hand
-Esku Pilota: It´s played with the hand.
-Pala: It´s played with a wooden racket.