Muddy and Cold - Red Wine the Cure

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Well it´s official. The Spanish headlines declared it the coldest weather in Navarra for the last 130 years. Cold, wet and muddy. Yesterday it was a very long haul from Pamplona up to the Alto de Perdon trudging through mud. I had poorly planned and did not bring any food in my pack, expecting to hit a Bar along the way and a bocadillo of ham and cheese.

Once I was past the last town on the way up the hill I realized that there would be no place to eat until I came down the other side and after five hours of walking I was very hungry. The Camino always provides and I was fortunate to meet up'with a 71 year old New Zealander named Valerie who was very gracious in sharing her lunch with me.

After wolfing down a half sandwich, I was off again and when Valerie caught up with me near some amazing wheat fields, it soon became apparent that she was in much better shapè than I was, outpacing me in no time.

When I got to Uterga, I decided to stay the night in a nice privte albuergue called the Camino del Perdon that had excellent staff and service. The next morning I headed for a detour to the Templar Church of Eunate and then on to Puente La Reina where I am staying the night before heading out to Estella tomorrow. I prefer the smaller albuergues - the one is Puente La Reina was filled with many pilgrims and is not as personable as the one I stayed at last night.

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Photos

Pilgrims in a Winter Wonderland
Coldest May in 130 years

Alto de Perdon
Made it to the top after what seemed like hours fighting the mud.

Fellow Pilgrims
Velda, Sue and Bogdan