AP-8, AP-68 or M-40 are not mathematical formulas, but problems that Mirentxin members have to solve weekly. “First we have to take AP-8, then AP-68...” Mirentxin consists of about 850 drivers divided into nine vans and thirteen groups. But the solidarity network of the group does not end there. We must not forget those responsible for the maintenance of vans and the coordination of journeys. A network serving the family and friends of the prisoners, whose objective is to “shorten” long journeys. Since its inception in October 1999, Mirentxin has been working on expanding its volunteer network. Solidarity as a central axis.

The first stop has been arranged in the district of Matiena de Abadiño, where Isidro Gabirondo, the friend of the Basque prisoner Ibon Muñoa, awaits them. The red van has been directed to Hostal San Blas de Matiena. At night, they knocked on the door. "Oh, the light! She turns on her own in my car!” says Maider Huerta. He will be in charge of making the first kilometers of the tour.

The driver of the van, who had just arrived at Matiena, has caused the hand brake. He sits on a table at the Bar Gabirondo, ready to take the road. One more passenger heading to Bilbao: In Atxuri, family and friends await you from four Basque prisoners in the dungeons of Córdoba. They're late. Concerned. “Families are starting to get nervous,” said volunteer Urkitza.

The van travels through Bilbao; forecasts fail and when arriving at Atxuri the first problem is that there is no room for everyone. Nerves have intensified among drivers. “If you have a problem, you get nervous. You want to bring family and friends of the prisoners to prison in time so they don’t miss the visit,” said Huerta. But the problem is not so serious. The friends of the prized prisoner Jon Kepa already have a solution; Iraia Urraca and Asier Gómez will drive to the service station of Loorder (Álava). The Durangarras have met with the second police van heading to the Cordobese capital. Four drivers and two vans, prepared to travel 818 kilometers.

Loorder is the stop that every Mirentxin vans have to do, and you can see that in the service station bar. If they can't pick them up on the road, the volunteers come together with the family and friends of the prisoners. Those who go to the jails have stacked box bags, backpacks... Outside, four vans. “Today it’s up to us to guide,” says Oñati’s driver who goes to Murcia. Beams of solidarity on Lopid's dark night. There is also the second camper going to Córdoba; the drivers are Maritxu Arostegi and Joseba Agirrezabala, while Ilargi Iraizoz, visiting Igor Portu, has been the companion between Egia (Donostia) and Loorder.

After half an hour’s rest in Loorder, at 22:30 hours, local time and time to continue the journey. Eight people travel to Córdoba in two vans. You have 8 hours ahead, you need to get comfortable. The three behind the van have placed the seat in a horizontal position. Everything is ready for you to sleep. Therapy begins. “Traveling with Mirentxin is also a therapy; we are all in the same situation and it helps fight the disease,” says Izaskun, sister of prisoner Xabin Usandizaga.

The two vans are moving in the direction of Burgos, as reported by the Basque Department of Security. The moon ahead and endless paths. The road is empty, only the trucks and the vans of the transporters, from time to time some car. On the North Highway, song by the Tijuana in Blue group, “What do you do? What do you do? Don’t dance with Tijuana in Blue?” Live, dancing music, to cope with the temptation of sleep.

Travelers have fallen asleep. Only occasional conversations and the music of the drivers break the silence of the van, occasionally with some weak snore.

Maider Huerta and Amaia URKITZA decided to join Mirentxin in 2014, when they joined the first template. “I was told there was a need for people; I proposed to Amaia to enter as a couple and said yes,” says Huerta. Since then, they have visited prisons twice a year. So far, they have known three prisons. The situation of the prisoners changes year after year and thus the needs of their family and friends, including the transfer of prisoners. At the moment, Mirentxin has to adapt to the situation. Today, more than 370 prisoners are dispersed in 71 prisons in the Spanish and French states (27 April 2016).

Three and a half hours after leaving Lopid, the vans head to the road on the Madrid road. Half the way out is already on the way, at the moment there are no major problems. Joseba Agirrezabala knows what it is to have to stop on the edge of the road because of mechanical problems. “A few years ago, when we were going to Alicante, the van broke down. We didn't know where we were. They called the insurer and sent us a taxi. We decided to go to jail without knowing how to come back. The important thing is to get to jail for family and friends to visit the prisoner,” he says.

Many kilometers, many jails and many trips; a weekly routine of nine vans. This forces them to have a weekly maintenance and, from time to time, you have to fix some parts. In short, expenditure. It is family and friends, together with Mirentxin volunteers, who are responsible for these expenses. A number of fundraising initiatives have been launched throughout the year.

4:20 on the clock. 223 kilometers to reach Córdoba. If there is no problem, the family and friends of the prisoners will arrive in time to visit them. Izaskun Usandizaga and José Martínez have to be there at 8:00, as they have offered visas to the prisoner Xabin Usandizaga, who has been unseen for a year. Ilargi Iraizoz, for his part, also holds a visa from Igor Portu. All other prisoners must remain in prison at 9:00 hours to carry out appropriate controls and at 10:00 hours to visit the prisoner.

The vans go on time. 6:30 On the watch and the new arrivals to the village of Peter Abad, the drivers of Mirentxin shall sleep in the inn of Macami. They take what they need to sleep and go to the inn. Fatigue is reflected in your eyes.

Nervousness before visit

Pedro Abad is 20 kilometres from the prison, where he has been arrested. Lander Fernández, dear friend of Jon Kepa, will take the van to jail. Fernandez was also a prisoner; he met Preciado in Estremera (Madrid VII) in 2013. “The prisoner also appreciates the visit of those we have been inside, because we know what it is to be there,” he says. Unlike what was previously the case, visits to former prisoners are now also allowed.

Suddenly, the sign of “Exit to the penitentiary” on the edge of the road. “Look, there’s jail,” says Fernandez. The prison can be seen from the road. Buildings filled with spotlights in the middle of the night. Fernandez's face changed, the confused feelings inside.

In the absence of 7:00 hours, family and friends have decided to have breakfast in a service station located a few kilometers from the Cordobesa prison. Between juice, coffee and roast, they talk about sport, politics or old anecdotes. Anything serves to cope with the tension generated by the visit. However, it is difficult to forget for a moment of the visit, and perhaps impossible, considering that from the parking of the service area you can see the prison. A motorist sleeps on the ground, the Civil Guard drinks coffee in the morning, there comes staff from the bar...

Isidro Gabirondo recalled the many years he had to travel to Málaga prison to visit his brother. “There was a pirate bus that went from Irun to Malaga, a ticket that could be bought in bars and shops; so it went to Málaga between 1989 and 1992,” he explained. However, visits were extended for 20 minutes, as inmates were unable to accumulate visits to any prison. “Once I went to Malaga to visit for ten minutes, when my brother was punished,” he added. Isidro Gabirondo is the brother of former prisoner Juan María Gabirondo.

Mirentxin’s contribution to family and friends is also present in the talk. Just words of thanks. “We owe a lot to Mirentxin. It’s terrible to get out of the house, get into the van and avoid the worry that the trip creates,” said Gabirondo. “Mirentxin offers the opportunity to enjoy the visit, if you don’t get tired,” added Fernandez.

The family and friends of the prisoners have to be in jail at 9:00 hours. But nervousness is imposed and they decide to go to jail. 8:25 on the clock. The check-up round is about to begin to visit the prisoner. The two vans are located in the prison parking lot. Announcements transmitted by public address to prisoners, with family and friends looking across the fence... After all, the atmosphere of the prison door.

The two sides of the glass

They must pass the first check at 9:00 hours: with registration, fingerprint. Then, they must wait an hour before the visit goes to the room. The time it takes to spin the head is one hour. What will I tell you? How will I greet you? ... “Once inside, you forget everything you had thought,” says Ander Robador, friend of Oskar Kalabozo.

Meanwhile, Izaskun Usandizaga, José Martínez and Ilargi Iraizoz, Xabin Usandizaga and Igor Portu are in vis a visean. The visit began at 9:00 hours, and the prisoner will have the opportunity to be an hour and a half with him. Izaskun Usandizaga and Jose Martínez have taken the photos, but in control they have not let all in. “I will send you the rest by letter,” said Usandizaga.

A prison worker has called on the relatives and friends of the prisoners to enter the prison. 9:50 on the watch. On the way to the visitation room there are more controls without passing: metal detector and fingerprint.

They've finally come to the visitation room. It's going to start. The patio door has been opened and the prisoners have begun to enter the premises, where one of them has screamed. They've started 40 minutes. A lot of things to tell. Countdown.

Mirentxin roots

Mirentxin The origin of the name is not as well known by the guides. Mirentxin Aurrecoechea imprisoned her husband in Algeciras prison, but she could not go to visit her. Aware of the situation, Aurrekoetxea and his two daughters offered to take him to Algeciras prison, where he is still the guide of Mirentxin. “If we had not received your help, my father would have received few visits,” says Araide Legarreta, daughter of Mirentxin Aurrekoetxea. Eventually, they created a network of friends who decided to make the leap to the Basque Country. The project was baptized by the Mirentxin Guide. “I am thrilled to see that the initiative created a few years ago to help my family serves to alleviate the situation of many family members and friends,” he explained.

But every visit is over. They've had 47 minutes to talk to the prisoner, and they've already had to leave. Yes, before taking the way back, those on the visa have to wait; they will leave at 11:30 hours. Leaving the visit, then, you find yourself on the jail portal talking about what you lived in those 47 minutes: how you go, what you are working on... A taxi driver approaches them at a certain time. Enrique Heredia, the taxi driver who calls every Basque who visits the Córdoba prison. Meet many of the prisoners' family and friends and trust them. Gabirondo, for example, has been told about the Eibar football team. "In the end he didn't see the match between Eibar and Córdoba! ", Gabirondo replied. Vis a vis start to come out.

About 12:00, time to pick up Mirentxin drivers. They're sitting at a table outside the inn, having breakfast. Family and friends of the prisoners have sat with them to celebrate the last meal they have left before the journey begins. Vermut, cane or coffee with bacon and txokos. Conversations, laughter and sometimes mutual jokes. It looks like a group of friends who have known each other forever. They are happy, but they have to come back, because otherwise, they will be delayed. They still have many hours to do.

Back home

Two vans will travel the Spanish roads to get home as soon as possible. Looks at the clock. Great welcome in Madrid: intense rain and intense traffic. The drivers have opted for the M-30, as it is a shorter route than the previous one. “Shorter yes, but more dangerous,” Gabirondo told them. They have great respect for the road, as since 1982 there have been sixteen family members and friends who have lost their lives on the road. The accident cannot be foreseen.

Fatigue is noticed in the eyes of family and friends. Many hours on the road. When the watch shows at 22:00 hours, the red van of the A-8 is located in Bilbao. Travellers have been taken to Abando Metro Station in Bilbao. Time for each one to leave on their side, they'll be on the next trip. However, throughout the year they have dating to be together. “Thank you very much girls. It’s amazing what you do, we’ll never be able to pay you,” Usandizaga thanked them before saying goodbye.

Drivers’ solidarity weekend is running out. They go on their way to Durango, excited by the words of thanks from their family and friends. They know that they have made it possible for six prisoners to visit, and if not for them, eight family members and friends who have travelled to Córdoba may not be able to visit her.

Drivers are tired, but recovered from the feeling that they receive more than they give. Give and receive. It is a Saturday at 23:30 hours and the van has been turned on in the Biscay town of Durango. It's finished 27 hours of travel.