Category: Camino 2021

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Viana to Navarette

This is a post from Mary’s FB account. As I type this at 0300 AM Central, she is on her way to the next stop.

“Had a good night’s rest in a beautiful property in Viana, but still woke shaky and very tired. Very few villages to take a break on this stage. I needed to spend time in Logrono, a city of about 120,000, to take care of a few things: had left an adapter with three cables plugged into a wall somewhere, needed a stop at a Farmacia for a few things, needed to go by the Orange network store and recharge my SIM card. I determined my body needed a break, so I bussed to Logrono, took care of my business, then bussed on to Navarette. It was the right decision. As I write the next morning, I’m rested and ready to walk on.”

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9/13 To Viana: Rest

The stone benches face the back of a church. It looks like a place where mass was held. Or some other ceremony. Baptism? Appears to be an alter and a font. Now, it’s a nice pilgrim rest stop.

The little bar on the path has an amazing selection. On the other side of the path, across from the bar, are 6 metal tables surrounded by red metal chairs.
A generator sits in his vehicle trunk supplying power to a little George Foreman type grill. I had a grilled ham and cheese sandwich and a coke.

I wonder what the original purpose was?
Google has him on street view!
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9/13 To Viana: Where’s the Arrow?

I walked out of Los Arcos to a highway intersection. Stood, scanning, scanning for an arrow pointing to the Camino. Zilch. Three options: left, right, straight. No arrow. No pilgrim. Me standing looking lost. Then, beep! Beep! A guy at the intersection rolling down his car window, “Camino!” With large sweeps of his arm showing me the way. Off I went. It took the help of two other villagers before I found my way.

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9/12 to Los Arcos

Today’s paths: A mountain and a dry, hot, flat road.

Started out looking easy
But then…
Hot
Still hot.

Luckily, had a private room at an albergue. But I had to share the bathroom with the two guys next door.

My room was on the top floor. There were 57 steps to my floor. It took me 114 steps to leave with the mask I’d forgotten in my room.
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9/12 to Los Arcos: Animales del Dia

One shepherd, two dogs, and a bunch of sheep.
The excited dogs raced to the water tank. One finally got so excited he dived into the tank. Then panicked because there was no climbing out. The shepherd shook his head, sauntered to the tank while the dog is thrashing and wild-eyed, grabs the dog by the scruff, and hauls him out of the tank.

About to dive in the tank
Can you see the black sheep?
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9/12 to Los Arcos: At Rest

The couple on the right are from Portland, OR. I stopped in the shade for my lunch of a boiled egg and a banana.
A long day on a hot path. When the rare spot of shade appeared, pilgrims peeled off the road and rested in the field. That’s my big ol’ boot.