Puente la Reina at 7.10am, reflected in the waters of the Arga river Today has been a classic Camino day; no spectacular heights to scale, a lot of walking on paths (always better than being where cars are), but many small surprises and delights, and practical challenges as well. These mid-September days are very hot …
Continue reading Camino Stage 6: Day 13 – Puente la Reina to Estella
When I booked the place at the hostel in Puente la Reina yesterday, the staff member advised me to start early, "It's going to be over 30° in the afternoon, so it's best to do as much as you can in the morning." I set off at 06:40 in the dark. I reckoned that Pamplona's …
Continue reading Camino Stage 6: Day 12 – Pamplona to Puente la Reina
This hardly counted as a walk, to be honest. I gave myself permission to lie in, and so didn't leave the hostel much before eight. I was joined early on by Martin, an ex-prison governor from Milton Keynes, and together we shared a pleasant flat stroll through suburbs which brought us to the hefty and …
Continue reading Camino Stage 6: Day 11 – Villava to Pamplona.
Yesterday evening was convivial with other pilgrims, in fact, probably a bit too convivial. I realised it was time to go bed when I led the entire terrace in a rousing rendition of "Oh, Canada!". Anyway, I went straight to sleep for eight and a half hours, and awoke feeling remarkably spry! The old bridge …
The lights came on in the abbey dormitory at 06:15, breakfast was at 07:00, and we had to be out and away by 08:00. It had not been a restful night. Twenty or so people jammed into a room with bunk beds. I have to say that my years of going on the top bunk …
Continue reading Camino Stage 6: Day 9 – Roncesvalles to Zubiri
The day started before dawn with breakfast at 06:30. With my walking companions, Jackie and Simon, we had left SJPdP by 07.20. Normally, I would have considered this a very bad thing, but today was a particular day of challenge! Through the Virgin's Gate early The old town of SJPdP is really very small, and …
Continue reading Camino Stage 6: Day 8 – Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Roncesvalles
From The Quire 