A shorter walk today...

Last night we went to dinner with our bunk mates from Canada...Sue and Randy.  Had more of a Spanish style Pilmgrms Plate than the other nights (fish and chips, beef stew).  This one had a very nice and very large and very fresh salad, a nicely spiced rice and seafood dish, and Spanish meatballs!  Our room with 5 bunk beds was full but very quiet during the night.  Andy and I both got a good night's sleep.

Left at 7:00 this morning.  There had been rain in the forecast for today but it rained during the night instead...we are grateful.  It was quite pleasant all morning as we hiked about 6 miles up to the ridge of a mountain...the Hill of Forgiveness (Alto del Perdon).  At this point we left behind the Atlantic area of Navarra.  Now the landscape will be dominated by cereal crops, Holm oaks, and Mediterrian brushwood.

Only one section was really steep for some time...I was sucking air, but the walking part was doable.  No more sheep, horses, or cattle now.  We did see lots of slugs...BIG slugs...and snails sharing the trail with us.   Also saw chicory along the path just like in Wisconsin.  We are now in wine country.  They irrigate the corn in this area so you see vineyards and corn fields side by side.  Beautiful contrasts in the vistas with lots of hay fields in golden tones, and the corn and vines in deep green...everything looks healthy and mature.  By the end we may see them harvesting....

On top of the ridge there was a huge very long (like several miles) wind farm, as well as a large wrought iron art sculpture dedicated to pilgrims.  It was windy up there so we could hear the windmills working away.  An enterprising young couple was selling coffee and treats from a truck, too.  We had our last glimpse of the Pamplona basin when we crossed the alto.

There were four neat little towns along the way.  We took a detour from the Camino to see a church called Eunate Church from the 12th Century when the Templars protected the Pilgrims.  It added about an hour to our walk (about 3 KM walking, our visit to the church and a snack), but it was worth the experience.  It is considered a jewel along the Camino.  It was pretty warm by then and an uphill walk for a long way to get back on the official Camino...so we were hungry and hot by the time we got to the next little town called Obanos.  I ate an ice cream bar and an apple from the grocery store and Andy had a cheese sandwich.

Our resting spot tonight is in Puente de la Reina.  We got a spot in a decent Albergue that can hold 100 pilgrims in 10 dorm rooms.  There are 4 showers and 4 toilets to serve everyone.  We were able to take showers pretty easily so it was not a problem.  The place is run by a Catholic religious order Padres Reparadores.  A church and a seminary are associated with it as well.  Very interesting.  The gentleman who welcomed us understood English but would only say "Passport and 10 Euro" to us when we registered.  There is a park like back yard for pilgrims to relax and rest.  Andy took a nap and I went around town looking at churches and the beautiful OLD bridge over the River Arga that we have been following along the way.  I think we have crossed it about 10 times.

We ventured out on our own to find dinner in the newer part of town.  They had a daily special menu...you pick one item from three categories.  We did pretty well...I got a mixed salad that was wonderful and Andy had a fruit plate.  For the second course I had chicken and Andy had lamb...both well seasoned and tasty.  For dessert he had flan and I had apple pie...sort of.

It started pouring while we were there, but it let up just in time for us to walk back to the Albergue.
We met a neat young couple from Berlin and had some fun conversation with them.  It's after 10:00 now and lights are out, but I am not ready for sleep yet.  We may have a snorer in the crowd...could be a long night.  Hope the melatonin works!

We talked a bit about being pilgrims today...how God called his people pilgrims as they wandered in the desert of a foreign land.  They lived simply but He provided for them day by day...bread and meat as well as shoes and clothes that didn't wear out.   We feel already He is doing that for us.  So far we have had everything we need right when we need it.

Communicating has gone pretty well considering how little we know in Spanish.  The people here are helpful and kind.  Yesterday an older gentleman in Pamplona tweeted a bird song to get our attention - he was sitting at an outdoor cafe and noticed we were headed in the wrong direction, so he put us back on the right path. Tonight the young man who waited on us gave us a one word description of the items on the menu...even tho he could not make sentences he tried his best and we got what we wanted. Little gifts that help a lot.

Rain is in the forecast for tomorrow.... It describes rain all day - but only 1/4 inch accumulation.  Hope that is how it develops.  Better try to go to sleep!

Fields of sunflowers....

Wind farm high on a ridge...went for miles

A long steep climb up, up, up...

Pilgrims on a journey...kind of made me think of Mary and Joseph on the road to Bethlehem...

It was quite striking.

Rocky paths....

The next several pictures are the very old Eunate Church I wrote about.  Very interesting and worth the extra effort to walk there.

They plant corn in any space available...even on steep hills.  This shows the irrigation system.

The next few pictures were in Obanos where we stopped for lunch.

This is the Albergue in Puente la Reina where we stayed.

There was a church and a monastery associated with the Albergue 

Another church with a park for children right next to it - located down by the River Arga.

Called the Queens Bridge.  This magnificent  Romanesque bridge was built to support the safe movement of the increasing number of medieval pilgrims who joined the French Camino and the Aragones Camino.