Zubiri to Pamplona - No Bull Running 🙅🏻‍♀️

Early morning wake up. I took a sleeping tablet last night and still didn’t sleep great, so I’ve decided I just have to be happy with the 6ish hours I’m getting at this stage and move on. Last night and today I’ve had my first pangs of homesickness. Missing my boys, but I’m ok.
I think it’s a combination of the novelty of the beginning of it all and backing it up each day. It was to be expected.
We left at about 6:30. Breakfast wasn’t being served until 7 and I was keen to get on the path early because it was going to be hot. It felt like a quick morning’s walk, really nice and cool. I did a combination of walking with others from my group and walking alone at times. I really get into a rhythm when I’m solo and time passes quickly.
At home I meet people everywhere, in the supermarket line, on my morning walks, at work, anywhere really. I’m surprised at how few people I’ve met along the way over the last few days. I think maybe my focus has just gone into getting through the kilometres each day in these early stages.
Pamplona has a buzz about it. It was a long walk in from the outskirts of town, all the oldies sitting out in the sun watching the walkers come into town with big smiles and “Hola”.
Just like on Dora the Explorer!
We were using Google Maps to find our accommodation and it wanted to take us off the path of the yellow arrows you follow on the Camino. Before we knew it, the local tyre fitter called out to tell us we were going the wrong way. We smiled because we thought we knew better. Then an old fellow got very animated and herded us back the other way. We turned the next corner to go where we’d planned and he was behind us waving his arms in the air, demanding we do as we were told. We walked a bit further, crossed the road and did what we wanted - guess what? He was right and we were wrong.
Today’s highlights for me were the lone red poppy in the wheat field, the riverside stop sitting by the stream on my own for a bit and the vibe of Pamplona itself. It’s just a pity I have no energy left to really get out and explore after another 25km day on my feet.
I did partake in a siesta today but 75km in 3 days - I deserved it
Also, Aquarius lemon Hydralyte drinks are the bomb. Potato tortilla for morning tea beside the creek, it was a bit stodgy but hit the spot. And an orange juice stall appearing out of nowhere felt like a little oasis.
As I’m laying here tonight though, I have my window wide open drying my washing and I’m listening to the beautiful Spanish chatter from the streets - lucky
Oh and there’s a bath in this accomodation - I’ve had two baths today to make up for all of my daily baths at home xRead more