The day started well, an easy walk out of Viana, heading towards Logroña, one of the larger cities on Camino.

The tunnel art was interesting 

 

 

 

We were intending to do some shopping, completely forgetting it was Sunday also a long weekend, so not much was open at all.

On the outskirts of the city we stopped to take photos of the bridge, one of the most common photos taken on Camino. Mostly I clicked and the girls scrolled!

 

A photo in front of the walking pilgrims

and a delicious breakfast and we were on our way again.

 

 

As we walked towards our stop for the night the clouds became more and more  threatening

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the rain began to fall and I looked up at the village ahead I had the strongest sense of déjà vu – been there, done that 3 yeas ago. I remembered the long windy road into town in the rain, the bridge, the steps and most of all the blisters!! This was the town I made my first visit to the doctor. 

It was bitterly cold and wet as D1 and I made our way along the village streets, D2 was still looking for accommodation,  when I was struck by a shot of pain   across my lower back that literally brought me to my knees. Long story short, D2 found accommodation, came and got my backpack while I hobbled painfully to the albergue, up the stairs and collapsed on the bed.

I was sure my Camino was over. I had visions of bravely bidding D1 and D2 to continue on their way while I rested until I could make my way to Santiago. Curled up on the bed with D2’s gel hand warmers tucked against my back I slept while the girls went off for a drink.

And when I woke up I was fine! Not a twinge. I headed off to the bar to find D1 and D2 deep in conversation with some of the other pilgrims about “what to do about Mum” Much relief all round, wine and tapas were consumed, and this pilgrim was grateful that her Camino wasn’t over after all!

Another early start, for once it wasn’t me tending to my feet!

St James sent us on our way

And soon we were out into the countryside

The early morning was glorious and the poppies began to wake up, turning their faces to the rising sun

Happily the cafe at the first village was open and we bought provisions for lunch

And my day was brightened by poppies! Can you ever take tooo many photos of poppies?

 

 

 

 

It was a lovely day, and we got to the outskirts of Viana, our stop for the night, right on 12:00pm. 22kms is not a bad morning’s walk!

A pilgrim is grateful – I was grateful for blue skies, green fields, red poppies, and still no blisters!

This morning we  thought we had got lost leaving town today so we backtracked and then realised we weren’t lost so climbed that hill out of gb again, ok it was only a little hill, but my legs still hadn’t warmed up!

The wine fountain lifted our spirits, as did the chocolate drink from the vending machine.

We decided to take the woodland route and enjoyed a lovely stroll through a pine forest.

Having lulled us into a false sense of all’s well with the world Camino said “Gotcha!” and threw the  longest hill at us, D2 managed ok but D1 and I totally missed a vital yellow arrow and ended up climbing more than we needed  instead of heading off towards the bar in the next town. Luckily un hombre espagnol walking through the hills came to our rescue and showed us a short cut to the town.

D2 was keen to tell us about the old woman who came into the bar in her dressing gown and the two guys who had wine with their breakfast and all we  wanted to do was drink hot chocolate and be miserable!

As we were leaving we saw a couple of cards for taxis, and how easy it would have been to take a taxi those last 10 kms into town. But then we would have  missed the lovely blue skies and green fields,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the couple playing Elvis Presley on the accordion and fiddle

and the roadside bar where D1 and I enjoyed beer and orange juice.

D2 went ahead and found accommodation for us then came back to walk into Los Arcos with us.

A pilgrim is grateful – today D1 and I were grateful for the kindness of a stranger.

Early morning talk in the albergue kitchen was of snow, oh joy! D2 said if it snowed she was not staying in an albergue that night! D1, still suffering from a cold looked pained!

I was ready early so set off on my own, I like the peace of  walking through the darkness, listening to the birds and crunch of the track underfoot.

By the time the girls caught up and we’d walked for an hour or so it was well and truly time for coffee but of course nothing was open in the first village

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