Finding treasure on the Camino de Santiago

THURSAY 9TH JUNE 2016 – Logrono to Najera (both have accents)

DAY 9 of actual walking

Km’s walked – 33.94; steps – 42473; flights – 17

I started early (7h00) as I knew I had a lonnnnng way to go, when Brierly says 29kms, he means 32 or more. Lovely morning as I left Logrono, quiet and cool.  I came across an open bar about 1.5kms out of town, and ordered a cafe con leche (Devine). Only me and two other pilgrims there.  Crown on my head and Tinkerbell on my back, I went onwards and upwards Ultreia, Suseia as they say here. 

Walked another 600 meters and into a beautiful urban park area.  In front of me were a few pilgrims. I had decided that today I was going to try and engage with other pilgrims language barrier or not.  I approached two Pilgrims and listened for a bit and they were speaking “English”. Whoooo hoo. I pulled up alongside them and just listened for a while.  Then the woman pilgrim noticed my crown and asked about it. I explained I’d got it from Kyle and was wearing it for good luck, and showed them my pic of Kyle with the sign. We spoke of me being Princess Stephany until I reached Santiago, then Queen Stephany.   Lovely comments all around.  That crown is a good conversation piece, very clever Kyle John. I walked with Babra (Canadian originally from Poland, and Izekiel from Brazil) for a short while, then a guy passed us and Babra said, “We are collecting countries, where are you from?” He answers, “Belgium!”  I started talking to him and he mentioned he had started in Belguim and had already done 1200 Km’s.  Crazy stuff.  We talked for a while, and then he sped off and I was with Babra and Izekiel again.  He had an injury and she said she was coming with me. Then and there she became my  Camino gift and angel for the day. 

We walked all the way to Najera together. She was interesting and funny. We laughed and talked (more she talked and I listened), and the kilometers just melted away. I kept stopping to take in the scenes and take pics, but otherwise it just felt so much easier today. Sometimes the distraction is great.

We stopped for a coffee in Navarette at some stage, shared my picnic lunch in Ventosa, she bought water and wine. We met a group of German pilgrims who loved my crown and I told them the story. Every time I they saw them after that, Frans the guy in the group would cry out and say “Princess Stephany”. They were charming! He asked for a photo with me.

We passed another Camino musician and giggled together.  We walked and walked and walked. At some point we passed a sign that said 592kms to Santiago. Which is odd, as I’ve already done over 240 Km’s. But exciting to see anyway. We walked a long way before Najera although we could see it teasing us in the distance. Once in Najera, I found my hotel despite little info and had a long hot shower. Babra and I met for dinner and had a lovely Pilgrim dinner.  Salad, trout, creme caramel and wine and water for 12 Euro. 

Keep wondering how Kimberly and Christie are going? 

Beautiful day.  To bed now, up at 5h00 to start by 6h00.  We want to see the sunrise. 

Camino gifts today; Babra to keep me on the path and company, the lovely German group that kept “singing” my name when we encountered them, the lovely waiter at dinner who could not speak English but was so gracious and engaging. 

( more pics tomorrow when wifi better)