I know I haven’t posted about Days 3 & 4 yet, but today was such  a good day so I wanted to share! 

I am not doing this pilgrimage for religious purposes but today I feel blessed. My first few days have been coloured by my previous Camino and my fears that I would experience the same problems with my feet. But today was so good. None of us were keen to leave our room in Pamplona, having overheard the guy at reception telling a guest that it was expected to be -1 and snowing!!

And it was chilly, but the first few kms were easy. Purist pilgrims bemoan the city pavements but personally if I can get a few kms under my belt that aren’t stony/uphill/downhill I am more than happy.

Of course nothing was open for the first couple of hours and as the sun came up it became chillier and obvious that rain threatened, grey clouds ominously covering the track to Alto Del Perdon, clouds by the way that matched the colour of my big toe nail!!

We stopped and had breakfast before tackling the hills

The next hour or so was so lovely, tramping along fragrant tree-lined tracks with just the sound of bird song accompanying us

Gradually the track became more stony and steep, the sight of the track ahead more and more foreboding, but somehow we managed it without too much difficulty. I concentrated on keeping upright and not relying on my sticks so much. Somehow the sticks pull your head down as it gets steeper  and you’re so bent over your nose could be touching your knees, well not really, I’m not that supple, but you know what I mean.

 

The windswept figures at the summit of Alto Del Perdon (‘Mount of Forgiveness’) are very
impressive, but it was bone-chillingly  freezing and very windy, now I remember why my previous photos were not all that in focus, the wind was strong you couldn’t hold the phone still.

We met zigzag Lyn who informed us that albergue we were intending to stay was fully booked, so D2 set off to find accommodation while D1 and I tackled the downhill.

Despite the rocks which covered the trek we made good time, and the afternoon trek through pea fields was very pleasant, splashes of red from the first poppies, and the wind rippling through the grain.

D2 walked back to meet us with the good news that not only did we have accommodation but I had a bottom bunk!! And for the first day I walked into town, head high, a smile on my face, feeling blessed to have had such a good day.

Over beer and hamburgers we discussed why these three pilgrims were grateful today. Mama was grateful to get through the day with healthy feet, after 3 days of struggling with a cold D1 was grateful to just feel healthy and D2 was greatful that despite the threatening skies, the rain held off and we arrived dry at our albergue!