I began today a bit later than usual, setting off about 9AM, since I only had 18 km to walk. The stage usually takes one to Belorado, another 5 km on, but my accommodation is just south of that larger town in a village of 50! Called Quintanilla del Monte, it is perched on a hillside and seems to consist…
Author: lkcopeland57
Day 10, Stage 9: Najera to Santo Domingo de la Calzada
It was to be a relatively easy 20 km today (when did 20 km become easy??!?), so I didn’t need to leave in the dark, which was a good thing because there was some festival in Najera last night that included singing very loudly into the wee hours. It literally sounded as if there were groups of people outside my…
Day 9, Stage 8 — Logrono to Najera
The longest walk yet, 30 km, and I thanked my Camino angel Kim every step of the way. Who knew it didn’t have to hurt! The new boot are amazing, and while I’m writing this with my feet elevated and after a cold soak, that seems to be pretty typical treatment after a long walk! The path wound it’s way…
Day 8, Resting in Logrono
It was wonderful to sleep in without an alarm this morning and to have a day ahead of me without walking. I was able to find and navigate a local laundromat, so will be able to start the next week of this trip with clean clothes. While having lunch in the main square of the old town, near the cathedral…
Day/Stage 7; Los Arcos to Logrono
A long 28 km today so we started with the moon and once again were greeted by a beautiful sunrise. The path was quiet and rural, past grape vines and olive groves. We encountered RAIN just as we entered the village of Sansol, so were able to quickly find shelter to pull out ponchos and pack covers and to continue…
Day/Stage 6, Estella to Los Arcos
An early start to the day promises an early end at your destination, so a slight uphill climb out of Estella, designed to wake up ones thighs was almost as good as caffeine. Towards the top of the hill leading out of town, the most beautiful sunrise greeted the Camino. Today’s walk was almost as gorgeous as the first day.…
Day/Stage 5; Puente la Reina to Estella
Since the day was due to be another hot one, and the route offering little shade, we set off earlier than usual (for us), at 7:15. The sun doesn’t rise until after 7:30 sometime, so it was quiet in the early dawn. Had a beautiful sunrise, and caught some plane trails in the pink light with an X — kisses…
Day 4, Pamplona to Puente la Reina
One of the lessons of the Camino is that you meet people, travel together for awhile, and then separate. And then, sometimes surprisingly, you meet again. Seeing Keith and Lynn in Pamplona last night was about that. They are spending an extra night there to rest, but may catch up with me when I spend two nights on Logrono. And…
Day 3, Zubriri to Pamplona
We began today’s 20+ km walk at the reasonable hour of 8AM. The five of us walk well together and are each able to have quiet time to contemplate our individual journeys, while having companions to chat and laugh with during the breaks or times when it gets a bit rough. We walked through to Zuriain before stopping for a…
Day 2, Roncevalles-Zubriri
Another beautiful day in Basque Country. I was due to meet my walking partners at 7:15 this morning but had a call that they were ready a bit before & so I threw my things on and together and we set off before the sunrise at 7:15 (as planned). It was a 22.2 km day, with some elevation gain and…