LP and VQT

Posted by LP - we deserve/need a rest from the recent long days of hiking, we chose a short hike (about 6 miles) and that gave us time for a relaxed start to the day - our first breakfast was an apple and chocolate pastry and tea, a couple of hours later we had a second breakfast of an orange and tea as we sat beside the trail - the photos tell the story….photo one = LP showing the camera the delicious fresh pastry and cup of tea (we are sitting on a bench outside the bakery) - photo two is the sign outside the bakery, it reads “ homemade bakery” and the sign is the clam shell (symbol of El Camino) with teeth marks as though a bite has been taken - photo  three = LP sitting on a bench (made of pallets) with an orange and tea - photo 4 = VQT buying oranges from market stall in Los Arcos 

 Posted by VQT Always a surprise on the Camino.  Met C from France on the way to Torres del Rio.  He has a unique two wheeled cart holding his gear that he pulls behind him.  You might have noticed LP wears green.  A lot of green.  C’s green theme made her very happy.  

Posted by VQT.  On the way out of Los Arcos we took photos of more beautiful doors.   No ring door bells…just fabulous old iron knockers.  One must wonder how many hundreds or thousands of people have come and gone through these doors.  And wonder what is behind them.  Would love to see inside.  

 Posted by VQT As of last night we have walked 84 miles over the past 7 days.  Today we are only going 5 to 6 miles and stopping.  We need a day of rest.   Place we stayed last night had a washer & dryer in the building.  Most - not all - of our clothes are now clean.   Photos of flowers for all our blog friends.   PS VQT had several glasses of vino last night to assuage her Irache heartbreak. Cheers!  

 Posted by VQT  B (son), VQT & LP G (father), LP & VQT Tonight was Camino magic.  In the square of Los Arcos where we went for dinner.  What a surprise - G & B father & son from Australia were there.  They were as surprised to see us as we were to see them.  We met them at Orisson.  They are part of our initial Camino community.  This is G’s second Camino - he initially walked the Camino with his eldest son and is now back to walk Camino again with his younger son B.  What a great dad!   Buen Camino G & B.  

Posted by LP - Spain in general and El Camino in particular are not noted for their vegetarian food so we were thrilled to find a very veggie friendly cafe in Estella - in fact not long after our check in fiasco (see Tired and Frustrated blog) we found this little restaurant very near our hotel - photo one is the friendly cafe owner standing in front of the menu board and photo two is the outside of the cafe with lights twinkling in the dusk - we consumed the food with great enthusiasm (some might say we inhaled the food) - we definitely have hearty hiking appetites these days

 Posted by VQT Beautiful wood door decorated with iron pieces.  Old church on way to Estella Eroded statue of Saint outside church Cross on top of stone pillar VQT sitting roadside eating an orange.  Oranges here are really tasty but carrying them for miles is not joyful.   Funky art work of a figure outside window of a home  Sedums growing out of cracks on an old stone wall.  

 Posted by VQT Two Camino signs.  And two photos of todays Camino.  The last 12km were remote.  No shade.  No services.  Had to carry extra water.  Walkers are warned that this section even though beautiful can seem interminable.  It was!  

 Posted by VQT On the Camino.  Pictured J and K, VQT, LP J and K are from New York   We met them at Orisson.  They are another young wonderful couple.  LP & VQT were taking a break on the way to Los Arcos when J & K topped a hill and saw us and stopped to chat.   Hoping our paths cross again.  Buen Camino J & K!  

Posted by LP - yesterday we walked another 22km (almost 14 miles) so by the time we arrived in Estella we were very tired - it took us a while to find our hotel and  we were eagerly anticipating taking off our packs and boots, finding ourselves beer and dinner, etc…….but we had to check in - a dastardly person or corporation has developed  non-human check in machine, it was a bit too complicated for two tired very weary hikers, needing to concentrate and scan our passports, etc, etc….then we didn’t know how the electronic door key worked….not our finest moment, but once we had a shower and so on, everything seemed better again :)

 Posted by VQT.   Photo of Irache wine fountain taken at 9 am.   The Irache monastery dates back to 958.  It’s a Camino pilgrim tradition to stop and get wine from the free fountain.  Today there was heartbreak the spigot was empty.  So tonight in Los Arcos I’ll buy some wine and console myself.   The plaque on the wall at the wine fountain reads: “Pilgrim, if you wish to arrive at Santiago full of strength and vitality, have a drink of this great wine and make a toast to happiness.”

Posted by VQT Photo of latest items left behind.  Heavy gloves left by LP and 1/4 zip left by VQT.   We have been shedding items since the first night walking.  We brought items that we did not need.  Tonight we are purging more.  Left behind items no longer brought us joy and the thought of carrying extra items another 4 weeks brings us less joy.  We must get our pack weight lower.   

Posted by VQT.  Today’s walk was rated easy.  Ha!  Lots of up hill.  And mud.  Lots of mud.   Photo of muddy path.  Our boots get even heavier with globs of wet mud on them.   Unable to find a place to stay between Estella and Los Arcos so onward - distance 13 miles.   We are walking the Camino early in the season.  Can’t imagine how difficult finding lodging will be during peak Camino season. We have passed many Auberges with closed signs.  Not sure if our lack of  lodging availability is partially due to our wanting a private room?

 Posted by VQT.  VQT and LP next to pilgrim statue Photo of the entire pilgrim statue.   Located on the ridge line between Pamplona and Puente La Reina an energy company installed a row of 40 windmills.  As compensation for these windmills the company erected this statue of medieval pilgrims walking, pressed forward against the wind.  An inscription reads: Donde se cruza el Camino del viento con el de las estrellas (Where the way of the wind meets the way of the stars).    Long climb up and a steep way down.  

VQT with running of the bulls sculptures.   LP with running of the bulls sculpture.  LP and VQT with Hemingway bronze sculpture at Cafe Iruna    We forgot to post these photos. 

Posted by LP - these photos are just a few of the many signs for El Camino we passed just today - they vary from crudely painted arrows and damaged concrete to beautiful ceramics and high quality metal inserts - with this plethora of signage, it is difficult to lose our way, but there are occasions we have to look around carefully