Pamplona to Puenta la Reina

Good news first. I finally got a full night sleep. Yesss!! It’s been almost a week of only getting a few hours at a time. When I woke up at 5am and looked at my watch I was so happy to see it wasn’t 12-1am for once. Now the bad news. It was dumping buckets of rain when I woke up. Shit. I looked at the weather app and it said it would stop at 8. The walk today was up Alto Del Pardon (the hill of forgiveness) and down tons of shale rock with tricky switchbacks. I’ve never walked this in the rain, only in blazing heat (remember this part, Sterling?!). I was afraid of it being very slippery and the mud. I was optimistic though that the rain would end, we’d just wait it out and take it slow. However, the more time went on, the rain just kept on. Holly and I talked about it and decided since both of us have a bad knee, we would make a smart choice and taxi to the next town. To hell with getting blisters, twisting an ankle, or worse yet, re-rupturing my knee that feels so good these days. I mean, after all, Louise said God loves me so I didn’t have anything to prove nor did I need the “hill of forgiveness” to repent my sins! 😆🙏🏻. More good news, this rainy weather is over after today. It’s going to be 60’s-70’s for at least the next 10 days. Hallelujah. I’ve never been here with these temps. Best walking weather we could’ve asked for. While I know the decision today was the right one, I don’t feel very bad assy and I’m antsy to get in the groove. I’m not there yet, but now that I’m sleeping, the rain front has moved on, I feel tomorrow will be a great restart.
We got to Puente la Reina, strolled around the town, walked over the queens bridge, bought some provisions for tomorrow’s walk, and went into a very special church that was actually quite impressive. Under the wide floorboards there were priests and other dignitaries buried. I felt wrong walking over the top of them but they were in the isle, and under the pews, so there was no avoiding them! They even had, encased in the alter, 16th century femurs and mandibles from San Pedro and San Pedro Eliza for who the church is named after. Crazy. The volunteer at the church was happy to see us visit and allowed us up the back staircase to where the very old organ was and a better view/photo of the retablo. We felt special to have the opportunity to go where most didn’t get to go! He stamped our credential with a beautiful stamp and we of course gave the church some coins. We also checked out a few of the restaurants menus here and decided on a place to eat later. The deciding factor for me was seeing Sopa de Ajo (garlic soup). Soup sounded good, I’ve been fighting a cold since Dallas, so I think this is just what my body needs.
We are checked into our albergue and it’s so lovely and quirky! I’m in a room with 4 ladies, all very nice. Holly is in a room next to me and I can hear her chatting it up with another gal. I love the Camino, and this aspect of albergue’s where we have the opportunity to meet like-minded beautiful souls from all over the world. Such a rich experience already and we are literally just getting started.
More tomorrow friends, love and miss you 😘Read more