Najera to Santo Domingo de la Calzada…supposedly 20.88km…I walked 19.1kms… not quite accurate as I’m sure I didn’t take any shortcuts…in fact probably did more as I zigzagged down the descents!
Leaving my room on the top floor at 7am…sneaked in for an early breakky…cornflakes and fruit and a coffee…I was ready to hit the road by 7.30am, before it got too hot!
Following the yellow arrows past the monstery in Najera then up…a (quite steep)cobbled road…knee brace flapping around ankle, as I need to strengthen this bad boy…and toes all plastered up to avoid hot spots turning into blisters…the breathing is not a problem…just saying!
This village of Najera is built into cliff faces and they were catching the first of the mornings rays!
The path then continued (more) up on white gravel…as Alot of this track is…there is a constant crunch crunch of feet and clack clack of walking poles! At this hour mostly mine!
Me and my shadow, today’s companion, heading downhill after the climb…knee still unbraced…and rolling along at a steady Sue pace (slow)
Looking back, the sun was coming over the mountains in the distance and one layer removed…as by 9am the day was already starting to warm up! Just me and the track, and Ken from Taiwan(we compared photos – a big connection) certainly time to smell the roses…
And avoid stepping on these inch long dung? Beetles…(I think that’s what they are.)
Sue and her shadow passed the next marker… the road to Compostela de Santiago is less than 700kms… we are just eating away the miles!
First village…Azofra…almost 6kms in …
Greeted by the livestock pens of roosters and hens..
Spring time in Spain is certainly very colourful..and the plant of choice in this area seems to be roses…here growing up the side of a house…
Welcoming guests at the front door…and…
Planter boxes at every window…I walked on through this village, not stopping, as I was feeling pretty good after my bus day yesterday…to be greeted by modern construction in
Timber…rather an anomaly in these parts where all buildings are stone or brick!
The only wood on the old houses are the (short) doors…I’m guessing the population of old were a much smaller race!
Leaving Azofra to head through to the next village of ciruena (9 kms away) …it was more of the stone chipped paths…and farmland
With the locals walking at my pace…birds cheeping…undulating countryside
The odd roadside waterfall…bees buzzing…and
This cotton ball thing growing on plants…guessing a nest of some sort……more grapevines and crop fields on either side…
Then a very long uphill…to the next village …needless to say…in exposed 28degree sunshine I was once again a hot sweaty mess…90 minute bikram yoga has nothing on this!
Lo and behold at the top of the hill and entrance to Ciruena…we were greeted by the rolling greens of a golf course! No humans partaking in the sport today……but a welcoming sign inviting hot sweaty pilgrims to wine and dine, or coffee and snack at the clubhouse…so we did , luckily, as there was nothing further into the town…and a restroom stop (note this for tomorrow Sue!)
To be honest, this village is a little underwhelming, with newish architecture and townhouses! And very soon we were out into the fields again for today’s homeward straight!
These were super pretty in flowers and sweet peas…kind of looked like a garden rainbow! Knees still rocking on without bandage!!!
Oh yeah…a lot of long straight paths…crunch crunch, tap tap….certainly time to smell the roses! Not a town in sight…
A little frog pond producing lots of croaking sounds…but frogs hiding out of the sunshine I’m sure!
Then behold – over about the 500th hill (ok so I’m exaggerating) there was the town of Santo Domingo de la Calzada in the distance, with a nice selfie of the hot sweaty mess in the foreground!
This area is known, I believe for its Iron…sculptures and bridge construction!
Hitting town…a welcome little fountain …and following the signs into the old town and home for the night…
With the golden arrows (not arches) leading the way!
Another little iron sculpture of a backpacking cyclist- these real life humans on bikes go roaring past us from time to time on the track!
Down the cobbled streets…
To rest in the square…seems to have become a daily habit…I blame Bob (friends from my first week!) although not in a bad way…,at the end of 20kms, we have earned this! I met up with another Camino mate Jans , who I’m catching for dinner in a bit back in the square…
Past the church and checked in…showered and changed…
I want looking for a new suitcase…on google the place was open…but I’m guessing IT hadn’t updated for the summer months…
A great day…sometimes solo is good for the soul (and knees) … just strolling along at 4kms an hour!
All who wander are not Lost girls 