DAY TWENTY SIX ON THE CAMINO

It was a short day..we left at 8 am after working on Kathleen glasses....she broke the bridge yesterday and we found crazy glue but it didn't work.  Have now used tape again on them.

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The day was along a highway with light traffic...but on a gravel path separated from the road and lined with young plane trees that gave us good shade from the  hot sun.  We made three rest stops along the way and arrived five and a half hours later in the farming community of El Burgo Ranero...11.03 miles making a total of 292.78 miles to date.  Breakfast this morning in the monastery was interesting ..6:30 to 7 am.  Silence because the nuns were still sleeping after being up during the night praying.  Coffee or tea...one cup only and 2 small muffins in a package.  But it got us started for the day.

Once on the road we enjoyed our walk and saw along the way a seventeenth century church, a Vineyard with the grape vines like bushes with no support system.  Several fields with scarecrows and we think a huge field of aspergus.

We didn't see as many pilgrims today but there was usually a few in front and back but far enough away to find it comforting to be walking with Kathleen .  I know in a few days she will have to leave me as she has to be on Madrid for her flight home by September 25th. 

But the camino continues to provide me new friends to walk with but must admit Katia and Kathleen have been extra special camino angels because they are both able to converse with the Spanish people.  Katia is now miles ahead of me.

Our stop for the night is a small farming community and we are sitting at the local bar with farmers as they now are playing cards. One is hard of hearing and speaks very loudly.  But we have wifi for the price of a glass of wine so we quietly work on cell phones and ignore the voices. 

We will probably come back for dinner...we only have two choices of bar/restaurants and we'll have the 10 euro pilgrim's meal. 
Buen camino

 

DAY TWENTY FIVE ON THE CAMINO

I'm with three wonderful ladies in a four bed dorm in a former benedictine monastery.   One from Holland, one from Italy and Kathleen who I walked all day with from Canada...we all speak English.  There is also Thomas who I see about once a week, a french lady my age, an English gentleman who is riding a bike in sixteen days, and Peter from Australia who was at the casa rural with us. Plus an assortment of other pilgrims.

Link to Picasa Web Album:  https://picasaweb.google.com/117895434014273629374/DayTwentyFourOnTheCamino96?authuser=0&feat=directlink

We are at the Monasterio de Santa Cruz in Sahagun.  It was a 14.66 mile walk for seven and half hours including four rest stops.  The weather was very warm today and we felt the hot sun on our backs.

A 7:30 am start, arriving at 3 pm.  Tomorrow should be shorter.  I'm still two days ahead of the schedule I set for myself.  Today was nice as we had several villages to walk through where we could stop to rest and take off our shoes.

I met Kathleen yesterday and we have enjoyed walking together.  Last night she broke her glasses during the night and in the morning we used duct tape for a temporary fix.  Tonight we found crazy glue and hopefully she can fix them until she gets home...she needs them for everything.

This afternoon I went to the museum on the hill in a former Franciscan monastery.  We also were presented with a beautiful certificate saying that we had reached the half way point on the camino.  A very good day.  Buen Camino 

 

DAY TWENTY FOUR ON THE CAMINO

Yesterday I had an opportunity to be a Camino Angel to someone.  I've had so many that it was great to be on the giving end for a change. 


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A nice gentlemen came up to me and asked when I was returning to California; surprised I responded not until October.  He started to walk away and I asked him why did he want to know.  He said that if i was going soon he was going to ask me to call his daughter in Los Angeles to let them know that he was okay when I got home.  Long story short I texted his daughter and she responded back immediately. They had not heard from him since early August when he'd left for spain.  She texted him three photos of the wedding that'd happened just before he left...before they'd gotten the photos. He was in tears and the family was elated to hear he was okay.  He is 73 years old and born in spain near santiago.   Lived in many places in the world but now in LA.    Has been away from the church for many years and has recently reconnected to his faith and is making this journey to thank the Lord for bringing him back to the church.  He is carrying a bible and another book in his pack...extra pounds.  But no cell phone.  It was a special blessing for me that he asked the question.  Katia switched albergues because two known snores checked in....for some reason I felt I should stay where I was and now I know why.  There is a saying on this journey that the camino provides when you have a need.   It's proving true many times over during this journey.

Last night at 7 pm until nearly 8 pm we had a young man perform classical music on the guitar.  Haunting and beautifiul.  Then a high mass followed by a personalized blessing for all the pilgrims.  And there were many of us as the next town was 17 km with nothing inbetween.  It was like a reunion, everyone was there.  I saw many people I have not seen in days.  I passed on the 10 pm soup and got a good night's sleep

Up early this morning I was out the door in the dark along with many others.  As we left the city the day was dawning and before we knew it we began to shed jackets as the sun became hot on our backs in a cloudless sky.  I was walking solo but never alone.  Some that I knew slowed and walked with me for awhile before they moved forward. 

This trek is 17 km of Meseta desert with three resting stops.  None with toilets, the second one had coffee and some food.  The trees that existed were across a ditch and impossible to get to.  There were two barns that were fenced off.  But we were forewarned about conditions in our book

It was great to come over the hill  and see our village nestled in the valley.  Yes, my backpack was waiting for me.  I took advantage of the sunshine and paid to wash my sleeping bag, jackets and clothes.  Will be great to sleep in a clean bag tonight.  We even have a swimming pool and many of.the younger people are swimming.  Tonight we'll all walk 50 m up the road to a pilgrims dinner.

Buen camino

  

How to see photos

You can find photos on instagram under marthajansen and on Facebook if you friend me.  So sorry I haven't been able to post photos on the blog as I usually do.

DAY TWENTY THREE ON THE CAMINO

Hard to believe that Jim will be here with me in only twenty more days.  Today is my last day of walking with my current camino angel Katia.  She has been a wonderful companion for the past three days.  But she has to finish her camino journey  by September 25th and must start walking more miles each day than I am comfortable doing.  She's been like a  daughter to me.


Link to Picasa Web Album:   https://picasaweb.google.com/117895434014273629374/DayTwentyThreeOnTheCamino95?authuser=0&feat=directlink

We left at 6:15 am in the dark for our long day. We arrived nearly seven hours and 16.86 miles later in the town of Carrion de Las Condos.  It was level walking on trails bordering a river, a canal and sometimes roads but rarely on a road itself.
In Villalacazar de Sirga we visited one of the main churches of the Knights Templar, the Santa Maria la Blanca XIII..

It was hotter as the day progressed...still clouds but not as many as yeaterday .  But we survived and are looking forward to tonight when we will have a guitar concert at 7:30 pm, mass at 8 pm followed by singing by the nuns.  At 9 pm they will serve a supper of soup before bed.   Buen camino

  

DAY TWENTY TWO ON THE CAMINO

Started out at day break about 7:15 am.  Lights were still on for wonderful photos.  I felt something was missing S we walked down the stone canyon between shuttered homes and suddenly I realize I didn't have my walking sticks.  I had to go back about four blocks to retrieve them before we finally left town.


The walk today across the Meseta included one rather long hill and then after walking the ridge it was a long steep downhill of 18% grade all with concrete.   We descended using our poles doing a zig sag pattern.  At the bottom there was a memorial of some killed on this descent ....probably on a bicycle... in 2014.


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Once off of the hill it was a long, flat and shade less journey for many hours.  We found fields of sunflowers ready for harvest.  Fields of corn ready for harvest and fields of stubble from the recently harvest hay that is now stacked high in the fields. 

We squeezed to the side of the road to let a huge herd of sheep complete with a donkey, dog and shepard pass us by.

The weather was wonderful, cold wind and warm sun with many clouds that shielded from the heat on our backs.  I wore my fleese jacket all day and most of the day my windbreaker on top of it.  I also wore my buff today for the first time..helped to tame my hair in the wind. It's a popular head covering on the camino.

We're staying in a wonderful Casa Rural "En El Camino" in the village of Boadilla del Camino.   But in the bunk room for 7 euro a bed.  And we just might have it to ourselves as Katia asked about how many because she is sensitive to snoring.  We had a late lunch as our early pilgrim dinner and I had lentils soup for the first time.  Delicious.  The second plate was pork the was so tender you could cut it with your fork plus a small salad.  Bread and a bottle of wine...wonderful meal. 

We're going to walk the town now...splurged and combined our laundry that they did for us so we're set for another day early tomorrow morning.  It going to be a longer walk but all on level roads.   Buen Camino

   

DAY TWENTY ONE ON THE CAMINO

Last night we had a fabulous meal at the El Molino Casa Rural.  Five courses ending with our choice from a tray of liquors.  There were seven of us, 2 spanish, 2 Americans and 3 aussies.  It lasted for two hours.  Katia was the linguist for all of us as she kept the Spanish couple from Valencia fully involved in the conversation.   The peacock came to visit in the late afternoon and the rooster magically stopped crowing before dinner.   The winds were whipping our clothes dry and slamming doors all afternoon and continued through the night.  A second night of fresh sheets and towels as Katia and I shared a double room with twin beds.

Morning came early as we gathered back in the dining room for a Continental breakfast before climbing into the cars that quickly drove us the six miles back to the camino where we once again began walking about eight o'clock this morning.

For the first time I wore my fleese jacket under my windbreaker as the cold wind was still blowing as we headed out across the Meseta for a five hour walk over twelve miles of trails and paths along roads in some spots.  We passed several churches, the ruins of a convent that brought thoughts of the extensive ruins that we saw in the northern parts of England last spring. 

We are very fortunate weather wise as the massive clouds continue to give us shade as we continue our way across this expanse of spanish desert that is normally scorching the backs of the pilgrims as they spend days crossing this region.  Hopefully the weather will continue to be gentle for us.


Link to Picasa Web Album:   https://picasaweb.google.com/117895434014273629374/DayTwentyOneOnTheCamino93?authuser=0&feat=directlink

I'm continuing to enjoy the company of Katia, my pilgrim friend from the USA who is able to converse in Spanish for us.  A blessing and she is truly a Camino Angel for me.  We will eventually split as her time schedule is much shorter than mine and she will need to walk longer days to reach Santiago for her flight home before the end of September.  For now I give thanks each night that she is willing to spend time with and walk with someone nearly double her age! 

We arrived in the village of Castrojerez about two o'clock and checked into our alburgue where we are again in a dorm room with ten people; but only 6.50 euros per bed.  The shower was cold but it motivated me to shower faster!

We ate a pilgrims lunch at 3 pm rather than the late dinner, so we are in for the night.  During lunch I saw the two frenchmen who I shared a meal with three nights ago.  They had just arrived and were looking for a place to stay.  It was nice to chat with them for a few minutes.  After lunch we spent several hours this afternoon at the Hospital De Alma, a house that is devoted to giving space to pilgrims to meditate and refresh their soul in a magical space dedicated to love and healing. 

One of many verses on the walls under photos was "Never walk the road laid out for you as it will only lead you where others have gone".  Each designed to give you things to think about.

Tomorrow is another walk of about fourteen miles.  It's dark until after 7 am so we'll probably leave just before 8 am.  Buen camino

   

DAY TWENTY ON THE CAMINO

Today I completed 213 miles of the 500 miles  that I will walk by October 8th.  A milestone of sorts.  We also began walking in the Meseta; a desert like area that we will be crossing for several days to come.  We are fortunate in that we are having cooler weather during this time.

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Our day started early at 7 am as we headed out of the city of Burgos.  Loved taking photos of the city with the lights still on.  It was several miles before we actually left the city limits.  I'm walking with Katia who I met on my third day.  Interestingly today we met the young couple who were in the same Pension that night we first met, on the road.  Always fun to met someone again but that a big part of the camino.   Katia and I are going to walk three days together and then we'll see.  She is 40 years old and definitely a faster walker than me so I have to pick up my pace to stay with her.  She is originally from Brazil and has no probably with the language.

Our first five miles was very level but after we stopped for breakfast we hit the hills and the beginning of the Meseta.  Along the way we discovered a couple who has walked over seven thousand km in the past year walking from Turkey to Santiago.  He is from Portugal and his wife who is maybe five feet tall at the most is Spanish.  They each have a cart with wheels that they push or sometimes pull with a harness around their waist.  Also have two tiny dogs.  Katia spoke their language and got the whole story.

By 12:30 pm we'd arrived in Hornillos del Comino.  My backpack was waiting at an albergue where I'd made a reservation.  I'd told Katia about the Casa Rural El Molino that is located near the village.  I'd called last night but gave up because of language difficulties.   No problem...she called and got us a booking.  They would pick us up in town as soon as I got my bag.  This is about six miles out of town and was a Vinyard at one time.  The owners are the parents of the girl who met and eventually married the grandson of Martin Sheen during the filming of the movie "The Way".   More expensive than usual but then we're spoiled by the special prices for the pilgrims.

Interesting fact is that we now think that the grandson and his wife own a  Casa Rural right in town and we could have stayed there and probably cheaper.  But we do have sheets on the bed, fresh towels and our own bathroom.  We are sharing a room.

We've done our laundry and have it "blowing in the wind" to dry.  Doing our journals and waiting for the dinner at 7 pm.    There are seven of us and most seem to speak English.

The wind is blowing and the prediction is for rain tomorrow...so we need your prayers.   It will be a long 14 miles if it's raining.  Buen camino

  

DAY NINETEEN ON THE CAMINO

Left in pitch black darkness at 6:30 am


With my head lamp on.  Within half mile I found four more and they were thrilled to join me as we walked along the road to the first town. They only had small flashlights.  I really had to pick up my pace but was worth it for the company.  By the time we reached town it was daylight.   Soon we were off the road and on a rocky path headed up hill. At the top there was a large  cross that we all stopped at for photos.  Then downhill to the next town.  A nice girl started walking with me.  A nurse from Seattle originally from Wisconsin .  We walked together for over an hour.  Stopped in next town for some breakfast and then everyone put on rain gear as we left.  Sprinkling lightly and never got too bad.  It did keep the day cool for walking.

I saw the turn off for the river route into Burgos but someone had put some  arrows going to the right and a huge group in front of me followed them.  Didn't want to be alone so followed the crowd.  I knew I'd made a big mistake when I saw the airport...but too far to go back.   So the long walk around the airport and then through the outskirts of the  large city of Burgos.

But at least it was cool walking even though the concrete was harder than the dirt paths.  Met an Austrilian couple
And a Holland man who all made the wrong decision.



Link to Picasa Web Album:  https://picasaweb.google.com/117895434014273629374/DayNineteenOnTheCamino91?authuser=0&feat=directlink

I finally turned on my Navigation apt that Jane had shown me in England...put in the name of the hotel and it took me right to the hotel.  They have a reduced price for pilgrims...only 35 euros and I sleep tonight between sheets and have my own bathroom.  The rooms are very tiny and in a separate section of the hotel but it's right in the old section near the river and an easy walk to the cathedral.

It was nearly 14 miles in just over five hours making my total to date 199.59 miles.

After settling in and washing out a few things I set up my reservations for tomorrow.  The hotel clerk made them for me.  Then it was out the door to explore the city.  Slowly walked to the cathedral which is the second largest in Spain.  Took the tour and enjoyed seeing it again.  Yes, we were here in 2004 on our driving trip.

About five o'clock I met Katia from Georgia in the cathedral square.  We met on my 3rd day of walking.  She stayed two nights so that we could reconnect and now we'll finally get to walk a piece of the camino together.  We waited a few minutes for two of her pilgrim friends from Budapest and then we all enjoy afternoon tea and cake while we visited.

Tomorrow well leave at 7 o'clock and start our journey to Hornillos del Camino. ..about 13 miles and into a new climate zone known as the Meseta.  Flat and very arid, but we're lucky as the prediction is for cooler weather the next few days.

Thanks for joining our journey...buen camino

   

DAY EIGHTEEN ON THE CAMINO

Hard to belive I've been gone from California for three weeks and that Jim will join me in only three and a half weeks.  I'm looking forward to having him on the journey.


Link to Picasa Web Album:   https://picasaweb.google.com/117895434014273629374/DayEighteenOnTheCamino831?authuser=0&feat=directlink

Today I started very early and experienced walking in the moonlight for an hour.  The first two hours were spent walking up the mountain of Alto Mojapan which is at 1150 meters. Along the ridge at the top there is a memorial to people who were executed here and buried in shallow graves in 1936 during the Spanish Civil War.

We were walking along a rocky gravel road for most of the day.  Some of it appeared to be "firebreaks" as we had oak and pine trees for most of the day.

The remaining two hours were mostly downhill or level as we eased back into farm land at the lower level.  Arrived at San Juan where there is a very large church and an Augustiņian Monastery built there in 1150. 

As this was our first village of the day many stopped for a break included Christina who had been somewhat walking with me most of the day.  She was always a ways down the road but I could generally see her. Last time I'd seen her was when we crossed the cow pasture and had stopped for photos.

But soon she passed me again on the flat road to Ages where I decided to spend the night.  It was early and she may have walked on to Burgos or somewhere inbetween. 

I'm so glad I stopped here as I saw Lillian who I've not seen since Roncevalles on the third day.  I first met her on the first day of walking when Monika and I found her near Orisson. .. very confused and only speaking her native tongue..Danish. .. which Monika also spoke.  She thought that she was taking the level road and had made a wrong turn.  We got her to Orisson and she has become a legend on the Camino.  She has Parkinson and shakes badly with her walking poles. She is also carrying a large pack.  I heard that she also speaks English and we had a wonderful conversation today.   She stopped for a day because her knees are bothering her...but she was soon on her way for another 3 km before stopping for the today.  She will probably beat me to Burgos tomorrow.  She says she is so strong because she walks up and carries her on groceries several flights of stairs where she lives.  Such a lesson she has been to everyone who has been fortunate to meet her on the camino.  We are so blessed.

The tiny village of Ages where I'm staying  is very old and many of the buildings including the albergue where I'm staying are half timbered from hundreds of years ago.

Tomorrow I will walk to Burgos ...a big city... and meet up will some pilgrims I've met who have stayed two nights in Burgos.  It will be great to see them again.  We've stayed in touch using facebook.   Buen camino

  

DAY SEVENTEEN ON THE CAMINO

Beautiful Sunday walk today.  Only did about eight miles and arrived in Villa franca de Montes de Oca before 11 am.  Lovely and very old building, formerly a Hospice when there were bandits who robbed the pilgrims.  Now totally restored and is a beautiful hotel much like the Parador hotels.   The owner has traveled the camino and the hostel attached to the hotel fulfills his wish to give something  back.    Dinner tonight will be in the hotel but with a pilgrims price.  There are 18 beds in the room I'm in.  five euros per bed.


Link to Picasa Web Album:   https://picasaweb.google.com/117895434014273629374/DaySeventeenOnTheCamino830?authuser=0&feat=directlink

Today was a beautiful walk with shade trees and clouds in the sky that shielded the sun so that it wasn't so burning hot.  There were more sunflower fields today and they are busy preparing the fields for another planting soon.

Kept thinking we'd get rain....but only a few sprinkles.  I'm enjoying my Sunday afternoon...even took a short nap.  Tomorrow is a 10 mile walk with no towns in between. ..
Buen camino

 

DAY SIXTEEN ON THE CAMINO

The wifi is really good so thought I'd try adding a couple of photos.  I left Granon before daylight and the sky was specular as the sun rose behind our backs.


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Last night was one for the memory books at the albergue in the church.  It is run by volunteer staff from around the world.  They come work for a few weeks at a time.  They are all past pilgrims and still walk it over and over.  After km 7 pm mass we all pitched in to help with the dinner and then we all did the dishes together. 

Then we were led to their secret room.  It is very unusual but they do not have a stamp for our books (we can do that at the bar across the street).  They feel that the sharing time is the stamp on our hearts of what the camino is truly about.

The secret room was through a small door next to my bed/pad and led into the choir loft in the church which was totally dark except for some candles.

There was one large candle that was passed from person to person.  We were told to share something, a poem or something from the heart or just to hold it quietly without talking before passing it on to the next person.  It was extremely emotional for everyone in the room.  We all slept soundly afterwards on our pads. I had a Korean family, adult daughter and the parents next to me.

Everyone was up very early...some left at 5 am...I was out the door before 6:30.  Soon the sun was nearly up and I watched the fields of sunflowers.  The small ones were awake and excited while the mature ones still hung their heads waiting for the sunshine to wake them up.

It was a day of long stretches of gravel roads alongside a large highway.  I was a solo walker but always within sight of other pilgrims.   Enjoyed the pilgrim walking the opposite way...yes...they do walk both ways....with his donkey.

Just before I reached my destination I found a delightful women that I met two days ago and we walked into Belorado together.  We had orange

at the bar and then she was off to the next town where her backpack was being delivered. Maybe I'll see her again, l hope so.

It's been a restful day ... nice mass this evening followed by a special blessing for the 25 pilgrims at the mass.  They are having a mini festival in the plaza...I can hear the music as I type.  It looks like rain...hopefully just during the night.

Today was 10 miles in 5 hours.  Tomorrow I only go to Villa franca which is about 8 miles.
 Buen camino
  

DAY FIFTEEN ON THE CAMINO

Tonight is going to be a unique experience.  I'm in a church run albergue that only takes donations.  You have to be a pilgrim and have been on the road for several days to stay. Our room is already full and the upstairs room is filling fast and its only 3 pm.  Our beds are two inch mats on the floor.  I have a Japanese family...parents and adult daughter next to me.  Mass is at 7 pm (optional) dinner at 8 pm and then a discussion time.  We have not been told what the dinner is as of yet.



Link to Picasa web album:    https://picasaweb.google.com/117895434014273629374/DayFifteenOnTheCamino828?authuser=0&feat=directlink

My day started at 7:30 am and after walking 9 miles I arrived in Granon at noon.   My new Zealanders friends were with me last night and waited in the plaza here to make sure I arrived before they went further on for several miles to another village.  They are such wonderful people. I hope I continue to see them along the camino.  My mileage count is now up to 158 miles.

Today's walk took me first to the town of Santo domingo where I stopped for breakfast and then made two visits, first to the Parador hotel in the plaza where Jim and I had stayed in 2004.  And then into the church to see the live rooster that lives inside of a cage in the church, he crows regularly so people remember he is there.  Has to do with a miracle many years ago. 

Then back on the long hot road for another couple of hours.   Many of the fields have recently been harvested and there are still some  fields of sunflowers. 
But there is basically no shade.  And it was a very warm day.  I think I'll get on the road by 6 tomorrow if possible.  I've got a long walk planned.  Buen camino


  

DAY FOURTEEN ON THE CAMINO

Last night the five of us from the picnic went to a pilgrims dinner and Mark and Jan picked up the check.  Then Chris paid for Gelato treats afterwards.  A fun evening with great people.  Hope to see Mark and Jan along the camino...they are faster walkers than me so unless they stop along the way....who knows.  I'm learning the pilgrims have a way of reappearing when least expected. 


Link to Picasa Web Album:   https://picasaweb.google.com/117895434014273629374/DayFourteenOnTheCamino827?authuser=0&feat=directlink

I was out the door in the dark this morning along with many others. This photo is a reflection in a store window.
 I was well on my way when the sun arose and it was a beautiful sunrise.  We walked for two hours along gravel and dirt roads between vinyards.  The dirt was deep red and it's said when it rains the mud sucks your shoe down and then clings like clay.  So glad it was a dry day.  But there was no shade and it was a much hotter day than yesterday or maybe it was because of the lack of shade.

I walked solo all day and enjoyed the ten hot air balloons in the sky near Azofra where I stopped for breakfast.  My favorite orange juice and a slice of warmed tortilla de patatta.  I shared a table with a lady from Mexico .. just over the border from Texas.  She has had a cold ever since starting and has decided it must be an alergy.  She got some medicine from the pharmacy .   Then off I went for a another two hours of walking.

It got very hot with no shade and people were literally sitting in the shade of grapevines to find some relief.

The last two hours of walking was different in that we now had a combination  of freshly cut hay, crops and still a few vineyards.  And we were slowly climbing up and up.

At the end of the day we climbed 1247 feet in that last two hours.  We all were ready to call it a day when we arrived in Ciruena..

Here I found two Australians, a lady from Cape Town south africia,  a man from Northern California and my three New Zealanders.   Jim said it sounds like you can practice your English tonight...LOL

Dinner will be here in the albergue which should be a fun evening.

  Buen Camino


 

DAY THIRTEEN ON THE CAMIMO

Last night in Navarrete I  ate dinner in the village with the Ohio and London couple.  Lots of energy and fun.  The pilgrims meals are so easy...everyone just adds their 10 to 12 euros to the pot and the bill is paid.



https://picasaweb.google.com/117895434014273629374/DayThirteenOnTheCamino826?authuser=0&feat=directlink

We had so much fun we missed the 8 pm mass but did go in at the end to see another fabulous gold altar. 

Up early and out the door by 7 am.  Walked all day with Debbie and Chris from London.  They are doing the camino in eight segments and this was their second.  They leave for home tomorrow...they are doing two per year.  They adopted a sole pilgrim last April and called him their tag along.  This segment I became their tag along.  Great fun and loads of energy.
It was a comfortable walk through the vinyards today on mostly gravel roads.  Mostly gentle rolling hills.  We took an option trail to stop midway in a village for breakfast.  Other wise no villages on the direct route between Navarrete and Najera where we are staying tonight.  It was a 5.5 hour walk of 10.79 miles making a grand total to date of 138.51 miles.
We were joined off and on during the day by Mark and Jan from Ohio.  They are newly retired art teachers and will be finishing their camino about the same time as Jim and I so will probably be seeing them off and on along the way.

After checking in and our showers and laundry; Debbie went shopping for picnic supplies.  The hotel let us take dishes with our food across the street where we sat on the grass near the river for a delightful picnic

Another good day on the camino.   I saw three pilgrims today that I never expected to see again.  It's a blessing to be with such wonderful people.

 Buen camino