Mind over Matter!

Sometimes what seems like impossible is actually possible…last night with a very sore knee and a cold coming on – I had plan B ready to catch a bus for day four walk!

This morning I thought…not so bad …strap knee and get out there… the forecast for no rain!!

I left Pamplona around 8.15 am …. Found the starting point…,

Followed other backpacking people to clear the city and look for my yellow shell trail for the day…

Within a couple of miles…the countryside opened up with poppies and wildflowers…

I stopped and stripped off a couple of layers as the sun was shining and I was heading uphill!!!

Goodbye to the crazy busy party city of Pamplona and into the wide open spaces of rural northern Spain.

High clouds and skies clearing into the first little village of Cizur Menor…,about 5 kms from Pamplona

And what did I spy…the Maltese cross! A hospital….in the heart of this small village! It was “the sign” my heritage is with me….not long after this I ran into a lady from Michigan who was called Sue too! And was also nursing a bit of a knee injury from our first treacherous day…

The two Sues joined forces and headed south up the hill and away from the city…both intent on smelling the roses!! And taking care of our knees! As we had a 24km walk today…this was the beginning of a great day!!!

A comfortable gradual ascent…towards Alto del Perdon …. The highest point of the day…,

Up hill..,for the first couple of hours – good on the knees!

Looking back to Pamplona as we climbed up to the first village of Zariquiegui..,

Fields of wheat and wildflowers

A snack break, water refill, and a loo stop!!! As the church bells rang out for the 11.30am mass(being a Sunday) …

Another 2.5kms up….

Headed towards the ridge line wind mill farms…

And peaking at the top with the well documented (photographed) steel statues of the pilgrims…

In line with the wind farms windmills… and then what goes ups (Sue and Sue) must come down… a moment I was dreading….

Ahead of us was a 3.3km steep rocky descent…

Starting at the circle of stones…each representing a village in the area..

Carefully navigating this downhill stretch …zigzagging on the path to minimalise the from knee pressure an following the Camino signposts atop either rocks? Why I say are there various piles on rocks on these signs? There are several theories…1. To honour a person who has passed…2. To bring a stone from your home to place and leave your fears and mistakes behind…3. or simply to mark the touts for future pilgrims!

The next village of Uterga … starts with a St Maria (virgin) statue … and meanders through a small village!

Then the next village of Muruzabal … had a very busy garden bar becoming all pilgrims on their final leg for the day…unresistable!! A cold beer on what was now a very warm afternoon!

The other Sue, relaxing on the terrace!

One more village of Obanos…roses in bloom…another field trek..

Wildflowers and poppies… Bordering wheat fields into the homeward stretch with more country colour…

Planter boxes overlooking their homestead!and it was one more (zigzagging) down to the final destination of Puente la Reina…. My hotel first the Sue carried on another Km to hers! We said goodbye and both agreed we had had a great day…compatible in our walking and knee care and curiosity!

Ok so here I check in and the bag transfer had mislaid my bag…a very helpful receptionist track it down to another hotel and said it would be here in 30 mins… at this point I ran into a young chap (welsh) I had met a couple of days ago and joined him and an Englishman for a beer…until my bag arrived … a quick shower and back to join the team..with a Dutchman thrown in to even the odds!

Ready to sleep and face a new tomorrow!