Monreal to Puente la Reina

Yes, I can tell that the years are taking a toll. Today’s walk was about 34 km, but with not more than 300 m elevation. I won’t say I was wiped out, but I was tired.

This was the first day on this camino that I actually walked with someone almost all the way. Alun and I had not seen each other in two years, so there was a lot of catching up to do. And I’m sure many of my Peregrino friends have had the experience of blab blab blabbing along, and then realizing that you missed a perfectly well marked turn.

We unintentionally started our walk along the Canal of Navarra. It was flatter than going up and down through the little towns, but much less interesting and sunnier. So we corrected course and headed up for the hills, and the route took us through a few small villages, narrow forest paths, and some wide open fields. The temperature was a little warm, but it was a great walking day.

Olga met us for cold drinks in Tiebas, and again at Eunate. The last time I had been to Eunate, it had been closed. So I was very happy to get a visit inside.

Olga and Alun are staying in Puente La Reina, and I am in the town of Obanos, about 3 km closer to Pamplona, which is where we will walk against the flow tomorrow.

But I couldn’t imagine walking the Aragonés without going to Puente La Reina, so I dropped my pack, took a shower, and washed my clothes in my little casa rural in Obanos. Then I took the 40 minute walk into Puente La Reina, both to see my buddies and also to enjoy the little town, aka Pilgrim Central.

The number of pilgrims is about half of what it was last month.

I have walked back to Obanos, adding a few more kms to my total, but tomorrow there will be fewer into Pamplona.Okumaya devam et