28 August 2015, Friday Stage 5 15.36 miles, Left at 0811 and arrived at 1630 after 8 hours 20 minutes. 6 hours of underway time. A warm day. An understatement! Friday, August 28. Estella - GPS said 18 miles but went nuts when we stopped for lunch and I recharged watch. Fitbit: Steps : 35168, Stairs: 133, Miles: 15.36 It is more than 1.25 miles from our hotel to the bridge, so last night our walk through Puente de la Reina covered more than 2.5 miles beyond the day's walk. But the photos we took of the old bridge, in the late afternoon early evening light, we are happy to have. We all have those days in our lives--the ones that you ask a person where they were on that particular date. On the camino one ... read more

26 August 2015, Wednesday. This is our last day in Pamplona and the biggest festival day of the year in Bilbao, so Ines and Inigo want to take us to Bilbao. They are both up fixing breakfast for us while we walk first to the statue off Avenida Carlos V of the running of the bulls. Our mission is to get a good photo of 'Blonde' in Pamplona next to this iconic statute. Next we walk around the Plaza del Torros and note the detailed description of the charitable organization that operates the Festival of San Fermin and the running of the bulls as well as the bullfight in the area at this plaza. This organization, more than 80 years in existence, supports older individuals with no homes or incomes. We walk along the route of ... read more

24 August 2015, Monday Tasks to do in and from Pamplona We mention to Inigo that the bag has arrived as we confirm with a call to the ever so reliable Christina. Inigo says he will come by at 4 pm and we will drive to St. Jean to get the bag. He is at work. We are on our own today. The first order of business is to find a repair shop to get the upper part of Harlan's backpack straps re-sewed since one has almost come loose completely and the other has started. The first shop recommended by Inés say, " solamente zapatos" (shoes only), but gives us detailed directions to another. We leave the backpack about 0930 ( nothing opens in Spain before 0900 and it closes at 1200 until 1630. We had ... read more

22 August 2015. Roncesvalles to Akerreta GPS 18.63 miles, 7 hours 45 minutes walking time, 11 hours from start to finish. Saturday, August 22. Roncesvalles to Akarreta - 19+ miles Fitbit data 45609 steps, 19.9. Miles, stairs/floors 186 790 kilometers to Samtiago This is a day of downs and ups; walking not emotions. We leave about an hour later than we thought we would as the thick walls and shutters provide an ambiance conducive to sleeping in---and the alarm does not go off! Not having luggage is the only downer we want to acknowledge. The Sorginaritzaga Forest, meaning "oak wood of witches" was where some of the most well-known witches' covens of XVI Century were held. It is a beautiful wood and leads to Burguete, a lovely village, perhaps most well-known for its association with Hemingway. ... read more

Those of you who more or less know our itinerary expect is to start the Camino today. No we are still in St. Jean Pied de Port awaiting information about our bags. Thursday, August 20 The day goes by without sight of any bags; but we manage to enjoy the ambiance of this picturesque village. We do a little shopping. We have discovered we like double socks so we locate several pair. Christine, our lovely source of all information, directs us to a 'pilgrim shop' across the street. Harlan finds a pair of cargo shorts to replace his good trousers. The salesgirl, who runs the shop, has a boyfriend who runs the same kind of shop on the Main Street of St. Jean. This street, Rue de la Citadelle is part of the actual Camino and ... read more