Day 4: Sansol to Longrono. 22.6 km

Shortish day to get to Longrono, the centre of the La Rioja wine region. As a result, we walked between many small holding vineyards in overcast and pleasantly cool conditions. Body still getting used to walking kind distances every day ; stiff and sore after each day. People who’ve done previous Caminos say that by second week we’ll be storming. I hope so - there are a lot of kilometres left to do.

The previous evening we spent in our first full-noise bunk house in Sansol, which was well appointed, but just busy. All kinds of bodily sounds in the night, including my own. Hostel put on a massive paella night for pilgrims, copious La Rioja red wine as well as entertainment. But us old people were too tired to carry on and in our bunk bed by 9pm. Jury is out for us whether we use the bunk rooms as a main place to sleep. We have found places with twin bed room and shower for 10 euro extra which suits us old men fine.

So right now in Longrono, which has a famous street full of tapas bars and, you guessed it, La Rioja reds. It’s times like this that I knew so something about wines. Small Paul and I heading down there now, where the other pilgrims are gathering.Read more