May 11th – There are thunderstorms predicted for early this afternoon so I am on the path earlier than normal today, daybreak at 6:45, sans breakfast so I can reach my destination before the weather. A power bar while I walk will give me needed sustenance until I can find a cafe/ bar on the Camino.
My hotel is right off the pilgrim path that runs through Pamplona marked with silver inserts in the road. I pass the gardens I visited yesterday and I liken it to Pamplona’s “central park”. The first 5k today (3 miles) will be on city pavement and suburban roads. My feet ate very happy with this surface. While I don’t have any blisters ( yet) my ankles are very sore from the uneven paths of gravel and rock that are unstable making your feet roll from side to side all day. After exiting the city I am dismayed to see a rocky path once again. Struggling with the discomfort I decided to change the conversation and instead of being angry I decided to play with the path and pretend the rocks are cushions that lift and support my feet and me. I’m not sure how successful I was in reality but it did shift my outlook.
Today’s walk will include a healthy climb that will take me up to the famous wind turbines that tower over a wrought iron representation of medical pilgrims at Alto Del Perdon, heads bent to the west wind with the inscription: ‘Where the way of the wind crosses the way of the stars.’
I ran into my Orisson pilgrim friends Claire and Eddie from Ireland and we take turns taking pictures of each other at this highlight of our Camino.
After heading back down the hill and passing through the towns of Uterga, Muruzabal and Obanos I arrive at Puente La Reina at 1:30 ahead of the thunderstorms due at 2 pm.
Tomorrow, Estella here I come!
You are looking so happy. Great picture of you…
good to see that you are still walking strong and what a lovely smile. Buen camino peligrina.