Saturday 21:00h. After leaving the madness of Pamplona behind, the Korrika runs through Elorz. The vans have a shift change and go to the gas station to flush the toilet and take the trash. After a fourteen hour shift, it will cost them to get rid of the experience of 16 March in Pamplona.

The capital of Nafarroa Garaia is still at its peak, many are going to go from juerga on behalf of the Basque Country, many others in the Osasuna party or just outside the Labrit fronton. The campers introduced in the turn of 22:00 have another juerga ahead, another type of overnight stays that will be enjoyed by a few.

The witness has travelled at night the road of Navarra Central Sur, ttipi-ttapa. The endless flat roads become long and the shoppers of the kilometer seem to travel a little over 1,000 meters, which does not happen at many times of the day. More steps are needed to reach the goal. In the van, besides shouting the words aldarri and animo, they had to give water to the corridors throughout the Basque country. It is difficult to support the Basque Country if the environment does not help.

From the van, the expensive Epi Aracama recalls that “it is essential” the support of all the participants and thanks the kilometers of Garesaldea. Although the announcer is doing for the fourth time and has participated in one way or another in the Korrika since the first edition of 1980, he says that "he gets excited as he did the first time." Being from here and a professor of Euskera, he knows those who take the witness perfectly: “It is beautiful to see them here!”, he repeats from town to town his former Euskaltegi students.

Amazing Bridge the
Queen! GORA NAFARROA
EUSKALDUNA! Have you done a good demonstration of strength? ?#HARROHERRI #23KORRIKA pic.twitter.com/sJonTOJpN1

— AEK (@AEK_eus) March 16, 2024

Just over 23:30 and the streets of Puente la Reina are full of Euskaltzales. Aracama looks with pride at his people, whom he has seen Euskaldunize for 68 years. The carestía expected because, among other things, in Puente la Reina the influence of the existence of model D is noted. But he confesses that he has surprised the villages around 23. Korrika reception: “What has the town of Eneritz bought a kilometer? I have flirted!” He assures with certainty and satisfaction that in recent editions the Korrika de Garesaldea has increased significantly and has had a strong momentum following the pandemic.

She's been her last year as a speaker, but she said she has the attached relay: "I've passed responsibility to a wonderful woman. Now it’s the youth’s turn!” Filled with euphoria and hope, Epi Aracama leaves the Korrika in Artajona.

The peoples of the Bank are awake

01:00 hours. The Basque is feeling drunk in the bars of several towns. Many children are also playing in the little hour of Saturday, not lying down yet, or just asleep and awakened, and parents are proud of them. The race allows breaking the routine.

Already in Tafalla, “Harro Herri Korrika” has been heard for the umpteenth time from the van, but the music has been almost covered by the screams of the people of the municipality of Tafalla. The Korrika runs under a bridge that hangs the banner that says 'Una Navarra, no three', sheltered by fewer and fewer people, as the night goes on. Broadcasters are particularly grateful to these crews who bought the kilometer on Saturday night in the Ribera, as AEK also advances “thanks to those crazy”.

03:15, and probably the bars of Pamplona continue in bor-bor. In bars running live on large screens, perhaps a juerguist has been surprised by the name of the witness carrier. The GKS of Navarra has acquired the kilometer from Tafalla on the road of Miranda de Argara, the only one that will be seen on behalf of the coordinator in 11 days. Young people run by saying, “If there is no revolution, the Basque will be lost.” And the ttipi-ttapa goes to ‘Gipuzkoa’ Korrika: Bergara, Orereta, Hernani, Antzuola, San Sebastián and Guipuzkoan crews and families from different towns are shaking the witness, knowing the peoples of the Ribera who rarely visit.

The arrogant people travel on direct roads, in a small group of fewer than ten people, in an atmosphere of solidarity and celebration that occurs at those hours of the night. The van is not endangered on the direct roads, but they are making their way in the car of the region, the AEK Arrate February and Asier Cabañas teachers and those responsible for the Korrika de Tafalla. We are confirmed that the 16 kilometres left unsold on this road have been sold to groups of Gipuzkoa or Bizkaia. However, they have confirmed from the car what they felt about the van: the towns of the city also have strength, and the work done by Errigorri and the Appearance has had a very positive result.

Accession to the Basque country is increasing. 04:30, and towns of Miranda, Berbinzana and Larraga to join the Korrika. It is difficult to give developed answers to the questions raised at 05:30, after long driving hours. But February and Cabañas are joining phrases: “This year the Korrika commissions have been amazing. The people have organized themselves, we have led it, but it has been self-management, there has been tremendous involvement.”

Berbinzana, Miranda, Larraga, Peralta, Marcilla, Beire, Falces... “In Euskalgintza we are the ones who are, but see how nice the answer has been,” they say. Korrika was organised at Christmas and since then each people has organised different activities. They say they have achieved good penetration.

Ask about the microphone “Where are the AEK students?” and raise the hands of some runners proud to be part of AEK. The leaders of Tafalla say that the Korrika awakens the passion for learning from the Basque country and that in recent years Basque groups are forming taking advantage of the fact that there is a desire in the towns. They value this favorable attitude, although they are aware that living in Basque in the surroundings is still an unachieved goal. They progress slowly.

Have Jose and Mari taken the witness and given us this fantastic moment? ?#HARROHERRI #23KORRIKA pic.twitter.com/Sf2WYhl35G

— AEK (@AEK_eus) March 17, 2024

Advances in lonely kilometers

Along this long and lonely road, they are helped by Euskaltzales who are willing to travel miles and miles. “No one is waiting in the next mile, tell them to follow,” February and Cabañas have passed a notice on the walkie-talkie. And until then it's been the time for those who have been running 10, 20 kilometers backwards. Durangarrak, Donostiarras remers, women of Orereta, and Iñaki who almost all night accompanies the poster ‘Amnesty’ and Amaiurko Antton with the poster ‘Azterketa Euskaraz’. In Juerga it's been like meeting people, and a group of eight people already know each other after so many hours. Since there were no carriers, they alternated the witness between them. A gift you didn't expect on the dark night of Saturday.

The night lights up and at 06:00 the Korrika meets the gauapaseros of Falces. Some of them have come together to continue the party, but in a few meters they have repented. In this time of awakening very early and very late to sleep, they welcomed Peralta on Sunday with the song ‘Egunsentian’ of Kuraia and the motto ‘Harro Herri Korrika’. Those who have spent Saturday night with the Korrika have made the Basque witness advance.