Estella to Los Arcos to Viana

I had lousy Internet yesterday so no post. This will be for 2 days.  I'm in a nice hotel in Viana trying to rest and make my knee better.
Yesterday, we walked 3.5 kms in the dark before breakfast to Estella so we could get going before the heat was too intense. I made it to Los Arcos by 1Pm thankfully. I found a little pension for 30 euro for a single room with my own bathroom! That was a lovely luxury.  42000 steps.

Today I left by 6:15 and walked 6kms for coffee and breakfast!!! It tasted great even though it was a packaged muffin and banana.  Then I just kept walking slowly to Viana.  There were lots of ups and downs so by the time I got to Viana my knee was really sore.  So I splurged on this hotel and am resting. The room has a bath tub and I took a great bath as soon as I checked in! I reserved in a private albergue tomorrow so I can send my pack forward to give my knee a rest.  only 34000 steps today.  if I can't get more distance in each day soon, I think I will have to take the bus a bit to get to Santiago by June 8th.  Oh well, I have walked the last section before so I have the option.  Cross your fingers for my knee to improve!

it is hard to see but these are my shoes. They used to be red!

day 6 very hot

So I am sitting in the albergue casa magica about 3 kms from Estella. The heat stopped me today.  My knee is pretty sore too but ok when I was walking. It is really sore on the downhills though.  I am still with 2 of the Australians but one has gone ahead.  I walked on my own a lot today as it was so hot I just wanted to get going.  Charlene, I thought of you lots as I retrace our steps.  I trudged up the pine forest  hill today and I had forgotten how hard it was and 20 degrees hotter.  I have been dripping wet constantly.  One more day of heat and then it is supposed to cool down.  Whew.  So I had chips and a beer for lunch.  Ack! Well, dinner at the Albergue tonight with promises of ensalata mixta and lots of vegetables and Paella.  Smells good so far.  And I had a massage this afternoon too. I hope to get to Los Arcos tomorrow. 42000 steps today. Villateurta is the name of the Village I am in.

Craig, Gayle and Robert and I leave the Albergue in Pamplona early in the morning

The summit at El Perdon above Pamplona

Hot and sunny trail, just chugging along to get to the bunk before the sun bakes us.

Pamplona to Muruzabal Day 5

It was very hot yesterday so I was glad I had been to Pamplona before. It was just too hot to explore.  We stayed in a modern albergue with capsule beds. I actually slept last night!  Yeah.
Left Pamplona before 7 and hiked up to Alto de Perdana by 11ish.  Then hiked on to Muruzabal.  In a brand new Albergue with a beautiful yard so I am sitting outside listening to the birds singing.  We can get dinner at 6:30 so are just hanging around resting before that.  Had a beer and snacks to tide us over.  Tomorrow is likely the last day of hiking with the Australians as they are planning on taking a rest day.  I hope to continue on without the rest day though my knee really didn't like the descent today.  It was rocky and steep and really tough on the knees.  Thanks to Scott for convincing me to buy 2 hiking poles. ...really needed them today.  I think the cumulative wear and tear and the heat combined with the steep climb and descent made it hard today.  Nice to be a bit familiar with the area now. 37000 steps.

view from my lounge chair

Zurbiri to Pamplona

Well, today was eventful.  It started more quietly than yesterday but quickly got exciting or something.  Craig, one of the Australian people I have been hiking with was on the bunk above me and when he was trying to get down, he fell because the side of the bunk broke.  He landed on my head and lap. It was a shock but we are both okay.  My glasses are broken though so I have to hold them on my face to read.
The hike was less difficult today but longer and the last 4kms on Pavement in the city.  It is really hot today too. 30 degrees!
And the next bit of news is that when I went out to find some lunch by myself, I  found a cafe in the main square and I ordered pasta tagliatelle.  Well, it was incredible and full of mushrooms.  The mushrooms were soaked in olive oil and tasted amazing.  The first time I have really liked mushrooms.  Of course I was sooo hungry.
I haven't really slept since I started this trek so I am really tired and hoping to get some sleep tonight.  Happy Mothers day to you all.
Tomorrow, I have to go really early because it is going to be hot again.  Not sure how far I will get.
I'm meeting so many people from all over and we keep reconnecting as the days go by.  I find it hard to believe that I have been hiking for 4 days already. I am tired and sore today even though it was an easier hike.  My feet are good and I have used almost everything in my pack!  I bought new sunglasses though,  since I can't wear my glasses to walk around. 42000 steps today.

Gayle and Robert and I at the gate into Pamplona

first 3 days. St. Jean Pied de port to Zubiri

Well, I have survived the first 3 days of hiking the Camino Frances

 The first day was 10 kms UP to Orrisson. It was a really challenging ascent but I arrived before noon.  I had a great lunch on the patio with incredible views. I have met so many people from all over the world.

I have been hiking with several Australians for the past couple of days.  We have been roommates in the Albergue's.

The hike from Orrisson to Roncevalles was long and steep with 60 km winds. Both the ascent and the descent were difficult but gorgeous.  Stayed in the monastery albuerge in Roncevalles last night. Almost  200 pepole and it was great . Well managed, clean and functional.  The surprise came this morning when the hospitaleros flicked the lights on at 6am and came through the dorms  with guitars and singing wake up.... It was insane but we were up and on our way by 6:30!! Breakfast 3kms down the road.  Tonight, we are in a very modern albergue in Zurbiri

.  Just did  laundry and hanging out with the pilgrims waiting to go eat. So , that's about it for the moment.  Off to Pamplona tomorrow.  Oh.  16000 steps day 1 , 36000 day 2 42000 day 3. Each day has it 's own  challenges and rewards

St. Jean Pied de port

So, it was off to the train station by 6am today and then a train to Bayonne,  breakfast and coffee at the station in Bayonne while waiting for the bus to St. Jean.  I met Faia from Denmark first thing this morning and a couple from Italy.  I met again some people from the flight yesterday.  It's quite the community that comes together to do this walk. I found my accommodation, Mason Errecaldia and a roommate at the same time.  M? Something from Germany has joined me. She is very nice and it's working out fine but it is funny to meet someone and decide to room together 5 minutes later. Such is the  way it is here. We will head out again soon to find out what is happening and eventually get some wine and dinner.  She has to leave earlier than I do tomorrow as she is going all the way to Roncevalles. I only have a 3 hour hike to Orrisson.  I met 2 women who are staying there tomorrow as well and they're from Canada,  New Brunswick I  think.  The scenery is beautiful and we are supposed to have sunshine tomorrow.  I am sure that I will be doing lots of laundry on this journey.  Most people are impressed with the size and weight of my backpack.  Apparently I packed well.  I know that I worked at it and am still not sure if it is too heavy.  I will know after the first hike tomorrow.
Well, we went to the pilgrims mass at the very ancient church tonight and it was
pretty cool.  Then dinner and early bed.

Bordeaux

So, I  made it to Bordeaux without any problems. The connections in Paris were a bit intense but I met a couple from Vancouver on the plane and they were going through to Bordeaux too so we navigated together.  Once in Bordeaux I was really tired so I convinced myself that I could take a taxi but discovered that it would be about 45 euros. I quickly convinced myself that I wasn't that tired after all. So I took the city bus for 1.50 and made it to the old city center just fine....found my hotel and made lots of use of the tourist information booth.  I hate to confess what I ate today.  I can only blame jet lag.  OK, some yogurt and applesauce on the plane, then a bacon baguette for lunch at this huge pork market and some more applesauce from the plane for dinner followed by a huge churro  with Nutella.  So I hope to fall into a sort of jet lag /bad diet coma now. I have my train tickets for the trip to St. Jean  Pied de port  tomorrow early and know where and how to catch the tram to the train station.  So as long as my alarm clock works, I should be okay.