Azofra

The sun was shining today and there was fresh snow on the surrounding mountains but not on the trail. This made today's walk very nice.

I am now meeting more French and American walkers. There are also some Brazilians and Japanese. Many of the Spanish people I met earlier were just walking for the Easter vacation and are returning home this weekend. Trying to speak Spanish and French in sequence to different people has been a challenge.

Not far from Azofra where I am today, is a town called Yuso. It is considered the birthplace of the Spanish language.

No pictures today.

Navarette

It was a short day today from Logrono to Navarette. The weather has turned cold and windy. There was snow on the ground in Pamplona and I'm glad I missed that experience. I did experience rain and snow flurries with a little hail today but it was just in bursts.

I am still in wine country and have attached a picture from a bodega passed along the way.

Showing the way - sign posts to Logroño from Viana

It was a short but cool stage from Viana to Logroño for me today. The path was fairly flat and dry. Great conditions overall along this section of the Camino. However, weather wise there were some snow flurries and a little light hail.

I am taking a break for the rest of the day here in Logroño. Attached are some pictures of the trail markings that led me here.

Viana

The day started with rain. Within a few hours the sun broke through the clouds and it stayed that way - partly cloudy with extended periods of sunshine - until I arrived in Viana. The walk today was on good paths and the terrain was rolling up and down a bit with some short uphill pushes. I've checked into the Albergue and am at a small cafe on the main plaza. Once again I am taking some time to enjoy vino tinto!

Tomorrow should find me in Logrono. That would leave me about 23 days of walking to get to Santiago de Compostela. My plan is to arrive the first weekend in May. That means I will have a few extra days to use to stop here and there along the way as I wish.

Today is also the first day I have arrived and felt energetic enough to wander around and see the town I am in a bit more than just what I would see along the Camino path. In general, for the last few nights I have been getting to the place I will stay for the night and then just staying there to rest and get ready for the next day.

Attached are a few pictures of the day to share.

To Los Arcos and the dry wine fountain on the way

I have to admit that I was disappointed that the Bodegas Irache wine fountain was dry when I passed by in mid-morning. I was looking forward to a refreshing drink of their Spanish regional red wine. Luckily for me, there was some good Monjardin regional red wine to be tasted when I stopped at Villamayor de Monjardin for a light lunch some time later in the day.

Overall, it was a sunny day and nice for walking. Some pictures are attached. The first part of the morning was spent under trees in a forest and the afternoon in open agricultural country. The trail was well marked and dry. It was nice not to have to tramp through extended sections of thick mud or along the paved road for a change.

I also had time as I walked to chat with people I have met over the past few days along the way. These included a Spanish father and son, two South Korean women and two German women. Familiar faces are beginning to show up as I walk. I have heard this would happen and it is.

Depending on the weather, I am not sure where I will end up tomorrow. The rain is supposed to return with a vengeance so I may make it a short day and only walk for the morning. My overall plan is to be in Logroño on Friday and that appears to be on track.

Estella - the sun returns!

This was a wonderful day weather wise. The sun was out in the morning and stayed there throughout the day. It was a nice change from rain. I was told by a local woman at an Albergue that it has been more than 70 years since the region has had as much rain as this year.

The day started with an extended walk on paved roads. I understand this was due to a landslide along the normal trail. It was a long and steep climb out of Puente la Reina on the road but this way provided good views. I enjoyed seeing storks nesting in a church steeple and a number of Roman era bridges on this part of the walk. I have included some pictures of these and other views I enjoyed

Tomorrow promises to be interesting. The path goes by a wine fountain known as Fuente del Vino run by Bodegas Irache. Pilgrims are invited to have a drink to fortify themselves for their walk that day. There is a live cam showing the pilgrims enjoying their drink of wine. Check it out at: www.irache.com.

Arrival at Puente la Reina - after plenty of rain

The way out of Pamplona was well marked. I was able to follow the silver discs to the edge of the city. It was a wet day although the sun did come out to shine from time to time. The trail is easy to find and follow. It varies from gravel to paved roads. However, there was one terribly muddy section on the way to the top of Alto del Pardon (Hill of Forgiveness). The mud was like clay and people slipped and some even fell.

At the top were wind turbines and there is a sculpture of pilgrims making the journey. From here the rest of the day was basically downhill. There was a nice Albergue in Uterga where I stopped for lunch and a break. The sun came out there long enough to dry out a bit and enjoy its warmth. Then it was on to Obanos where the streets have brass colored conch shells in the streets marking the way. At a church almost at the edge of town, I was able to sit out a thunder storm that included hail.

I have attached a few pictures to give the flavor of the day. My favorite is of the shoes stacked on shelves outside the Albergue where I am staying.