Day 5 Pamplona to Puente La Reina, Spain  September 26, 2022

I had a great sleep at Jesus y Maria and was ready to get exploring by about 7:30.  

Breakfast was a potato and cheese tortilla-

Unfortunately the cathedral-

was not open but I did find city hall-

and the library-

Leaving Pamplona-

Today’s assignment-

It was going to be a long day!

There are wind turbines on the top of the hill in the distance.  That’s where I was headed-

Along the way-

I love walking through paths through trees!

Berries grow in the ditches-

The views are lovely-

 

There are a lot of rocks in the fields.  Harvest is finished and just stubble remains-

Getting near the top-

There are a lot of monuments along the way-

Finally I came to Zariquiegui where I ran into Marjanne. I had a ham and tomato bocadillo - (a sandwich using a baguette) for lunch.  I needed a rest after the long hill.  I am trying to get used to my orthotics so I wore them for 35 minutes.  I should have stopped when I first felt the irritation but no, so I have a blister on my left heel.  The blister bandages work amazingly and I didn’t feel it the rest of the day.  I also taped a few toes to protect them and voilà, no problem.  Now if I could get rid of the stiffness in my legs, especially my calves I’d be laughing…well that’s a bit of an exaggeration but things would definitely be easier-

The church is nice-

Then it was upward and onward-

until Alto del Perón which is a monument to we pelegrinos up on top of the hill.  As I approached I could hear the wind turbines making noise like a not so silent dishwasher.  That sound would drive me crazy if I had to listen to it all day-

The view and from where I came-

Where I’m going-

And then the fun?? began - the descent-

Walking on the rocks was not easy, however it would have been a lot harder in the rain.

So my intention for today was the remembrance that it’s more about the journey than the destination.  I made sure I looked back often and took a lot of pictures.  I sat down more than ever - I don’t like doing that because the people I’ve recently passed walk by and then I have to make up for lost time.  I’m not in a race, I think I just use the speed of others to gauge my own.  6+ hours of walking is hard and I don’t want to waste a moment.

Stupid comments of the day-  Where are you from?  Saskatchewan.  Oh..

and

Where are you from?  Saskatchewan.  Oh, that’s Manitoba right?  That’s the capital?

or yesterday a fellow from Portland which according to google maps is about 900 miles away had no clue where Saskatchewan was.  

Another monument-

Finally some grapes-

Sunflowers-

and olives.  We had the most delicious olives for tapas in Pamplona-

Along the descent-

Yes I felt as knackered as I look but I had finally arrived in Puente La Reina - Queen’s Bridge-

It took awhile to find an albergue - the first one didn’t exist, the second one was closed on Mondays, the third one didn’t answer calls but finally I found a bed but on the top bunk.  Oh well…it’s the first time so far.

In Puente La Reina there’s a huge community garden-

And it’s the pepper harvest-

Supper was a burger with a fried egg on top-

Marjanne, Helle and Rebecca from Wisconsin came later.  I went sight seeing and stopped in at the Santiago church-

I love the narrow streets and architecture-

Then I finally found the puente-

I’m looking forward to a great sleep!