A Day On A Path
Up and down another mountain. The Camino is busily training me. I had been dreading the rocky descent past the peak (Alto del Perdon) because it kicked my rear last time. However, this time, I didn’t find it so exhausting. At the bottom, I passed the bench where I’d stopped and stretched out last time ( wondering how I’d get up and continue the last 11 km). I wasn’t even tempted to sit for a bit.
A dynamo of a woman from Florida.
Meet Larry, from the Czech Republic. His name is too hard for us to pronounce, so George just calls him Larry. Now, he is introduced as Larry and answers quite cheerfully to his new Camino name.
9/8 No mountain today!
Meet George, a retired Air Force pilot from Alabama. He’s 81 and on his 6th Camino: this is his 4th Camino Frances, and he’s completed the Camino Norte, and the Camino Portuguese from Lisbon.
Front and rear views! He has several Camino tattoos.
9/7 – 25 km / 16 miles (Actually came out to be 17 miles)
Beautiful and treacherous! Just about the time I’d think the treacherous trail would go on forever, the Camino would offer a respite (and then say, Just kidding! Here’s more rocks for you!
The Café Iruña, Pamplona is a historic venue. Mary had dinner there Wednesday evening with her new Camino friend, Ann.
It was that crowded when I was there in 2019 – not so in Covid times, but still busy. They have many outside tables, so people are not squished together, and they are not seating indoors.
These first few days are hard. I walked this same path two years ago, and what I remembered was the beautiful forest walk. Just as well I’d forgotten about the steep climb and relentless, steep, rocky descent.
More to come. More photos. More narrative. I have a day off tomorrow and will catch up.