Puente la Reina to Estella

It rained on the parade….most of the day.  It was a great experience nonetheless….jackets on…jackets off….ponchos on….ponchos off.  Koreans having breakdowns on the way – clearly it was getting to be too much for some.  We entered the first of the vineyard areas.  Amazingly neat vineyards with olive trees planted throughout.  Met a young Pamplonan who has bought 9000 sq meters and has set up a stall where you can choose from fruit, coffee, wine, biscuits and all variety of fruit and all that is asked is a donation for anything you take.  The donation will be put towards building an albergue (pilgrim accommodation) on the site.

Pleased to see the sign which told us we were down to 676 km to Santiago….we’re getting there, one step at a time.    Moved on and found a place for more coffee – a dungeon really but the Koreans were taken by it (picture above) and then started another climb.  The climbs are FINE, the downs are not so fun…but the trusty sticks are the blessing of the path (my view of the world – Lori thinks it’s the other way around).

Every town has a church, of course on the highest piece of land and the Camino takes you past every  front door.  Amazing buildings and amazing histories.  One was started in  12th century and we walked over a bridge built by the Romans in the 3rd century to get to it…on the theme of religious enlightment, my traveling companion caught me unawares today.  After about three hours of walking I hear quietly from behind “I’m looking for a sign”…I didn’t respond thinking that this was clearly the moment of enlightment and that the purpose of the Camino had become clear….the next sentence was a louder refrain…. “ I’,m looking for a street sign, have you seen it?”  Oh well 650km to Santiago…