Logrono Sept. 11,2014 Thursday

After a nice bath, I feel like a new person. Then of course the obligatory laundry, what does not dry hangs over my backpack & the Sun dries it while I walk.

We'd. Sept.10 From Estella to Torres del Rio

I was walking in the dark with Pam & we totally missed the detour to the Fountain of Wine & Water given free to all peregrinos. My Canadian friends fill their water bottle & I caught up with them at a roadside store. Tradition was to drink the wine in my shell.

Thurs. Sept. 11,2014 From Torres del Rio to Logrono

The best night sleep I had in a week, I have the penthouse section of Albergue Mariela in Torres del Rio, actually it was the 4th floor, no elevator. No snoring!!! Most of the peregrinos stayed in Los Arcos which was also my destination but I got there at 14:00 & decided to continue on to Torres del Rio another 7-8 km. it was so hot, no shade to rest so I was thankful I always carry a reserve water bottle. I arrived in Sansol where I found my new friends. The E31 includes lodging, dinner, laundry & breakfast, not bad. But my Canadian friends who I have asked to save a bed for me was in T. del Rio. It was only 1 km more so after I had a nice cold water, I was ready to go to del Rio.got there at 17:00, bath, wash clothes & dinner. That's mostly my day.

Sept. 9,2014 Puente la Reina to Estella 22 km 13.6 miles

The peregrinos woke me up at 5:00, tried to go back to sleep but too noisy so I just got up & got ready with my headlamp. Made tea & baguette with peach jelly & cheese, 2 hard oiled eggs. Started my walk by 06:30, still dark so the full moon was beautiful & lit our way. I guess a pilgrim's day is basically the same, up early, walk paths of loose gravel, hard concrete, dried up mud, at times very narrow mountain ridge or along fields. The daily experience may vary on the different people I meet, Australians, Germans, Irish, South Korean, Japanese, Spanish, Canadians & Americans. Everyone has been so nice & helpful. I learned from Robert (Toronto) about Cocoa beans to prevent sunburn, Pedro from Madrid took my pic at the river where I had my lunch. I keep walking into my "old" Calgary ladies. Tonight a young Hungarian cooked too much pasta & sauce, he invited me & 2 Mexican girls to dinner at the Albergue. I told him to put up a note " Help Yourself" in the kitchen. Later he told us the spaghetti is gone.
Everyday I learn a bit more on how to pack without taking everything out. I thought I put things according to need but most showers do not have any hooks to hang your clothes & toiletries, no soap holder so I have to be so creative as to how to take my valuables with me, US passport, IPad, money. So many things we take for granted. Such is the life of a pilgrim on the Camino.

Day 6: on to Puente la Reina

23.5 km 14.6 miles. Started at 0700 AM, bit dark still but was so nice & cool specially after the night rain.

I got to Puente la Reina at 4:45 PM in 9 1/2 hours. I think I am getting conditioned, I still walk slowly & everyone still passes me by. When I got to P. La Reina, the 1st Albergue was full. I was dismayed as I don't want to stay in a gym again. This is a smaller town but it has 5 albergues so I was able to get a bed.

I did not want the Pilgrim's Dinner so I went to the Super Mercado, bought a piece of steak, 6 eggs, cashew, 1/2 a baguette ( I learned this in Paris) & apricot & peach jam single serve. For E8.46, I have dinner tonight, breakfast & lunch tomorrow. Their breakfast at the Albergue is E3.00 for coffee & Danish roll. I have bought green tea so I am set.

All the cooking utensils, pot & pans are available for use. I just have to wash up after use.

Right now a man is playing the guitar & singing some beautiful Spanish music.

Here are some memories of the day...

Buen Camino,
Josie

Apartment in Pamplona

Still Pamplona

This was the view from my bedroom, the Catedral Maria la Real. I was able to join the Rosary prayer. The altar with the Virgen was so beautiful but so well lit that the IPad could not take a good picture.