To Viloria de Rioja

Walked with our new friend Dirk from 70 km outside Cologne. Separated from the mother of his children, quitting his job and not much use to his 15 year old daughter or 19 year old son, he's looking for a new direction. Kind hearted soul, warm and open. Easy but hot walk with several coffee stops to get here. Lunch stop in ugly truck stop just outside Castildelgado. Lost Sal for little while in Castildelgado while we tried to find the cafe. Scary. We won't separate out to reconnoiter again. We could have gone on as we felt fine (Dirk did), but the auberge is lovely and homely with a rumpty floor and uneven steps up to the rooms. And it's so quiet - delightfully so. And our feet are thanking us. Met Lise the Colombian- just divorced and just lost her job. Only 33 so too young for Dirk!Read more