Walking The Way

Sept 16/17- spent yesterday (Sep 16) as a rest day in Logroño with my buddies Mike and Viola. This morning we were ‘up and Adam’ and headed to Navarette, walking another 15 KM (10 miles).

Had a great rest day in Logroño yesterday. We stayed in a nice little apartment in town, and just walked around the town. Logroño is a big city, about the same size as Pamplona, with lots of cars and a ton of eateries. We chose to buy food and wine at the grocery and cook our own meals while in town. Mike made us his famous breakfast tacos which were delicious, and we also made our dinner together and had a nice salad, pasta, pesto bread… with Tempranillo of course! We had a nice relaxing day/evening on the rooftop patio of our apartment. It made for a relaxing day for the three of us and gave our bodies time to recoup from the daily hikes. It’s really important to incorporate these rest days into your walk so your body gets a little breather from the continuous hiking/walking each day brings.

I left this morning toward Navarette, full of energy and ready to go after a day of rest. The weather was beautiful, cool breezes, sunshine mixed with shade, and made for a very nice walk to Navarrete. Mike and Viola were great company along the way. Normally I would walk further, but the next closest town past Navarette is another 15 miles, so we decided Navarette would be the destination today.

I am now walking in Tempranillo country in the middle of the Rioja wine region, and all the vines are full with rich purple grapes. It’s such a beautiful landscape and reminds me of home.

Along our trek out of Logroño we came across a man named Marcelino Lobato. He’s an institution in these parts and greets all the pilgrims walking the path each day and stamps your pilgrim passports. A really fun and seasoned man who seems to just enjoy life.

Walking toward my destination today, I saw so many new pilgrims also on their journey, as several other paths to Santiago converge here. I met a very nice couple from Greensboro, NC, a nice gentleman from Arizona, and a nice couple from Melbourne. So many people on their way to Santiago.

Tonight my place to rest my head is El Cantaro, a pilgrim albergue in Navarette. Navarette is a small village established in 1192 and is the only pottery center in the La Rioja region of Spain. It primarily exists today supporting the pilgrims of the Camino de Santiago.

My thoughts: Feeling really great physically lately and certain I can complete this journey. I continue to be amazed by all the people I meet along the way and how kind and generous they are too! We are all on this journey together, but yet on our own time. Taking it at my own pace, enjoying the people and surrounding countryside and feeling blessed.