A Day On A Path
Pilgrim Chris from the UK. I’ve enjoyed the company of this young man and his friends many times along my journey. He was also part of the group that gave me the impromptu birthday party in El Acebo. I learned yesterday that his day job is a circus performer. I invite you to watch this video all the way through- his performance gets increasingly difficult and impressive as time goes by in the video. What a graceful body and gracious spirit.
Pilgrims
This was a pretty easy, but monotonous walk. It’s like that sometimes. It is easy for me to find beauty in the lush greens, small creeks hidden among the shadows, the fruit-laden vineyards. I must pause longer and look at greater vistas to notice the many muted colors in the plowed fields and dirt roads. I try. But then soon stare at the horizon hoping to see the tip of the village cathedral.
Many of these small villages depend primarily on Camino pilgrim euros. The village of Cirueña, shown at the top of the hill on the elevation map, has no surviving business after the Covid lockdown. There were two albergues, a cafe/bar, and a market that I know of. They thoughtfully provided a sheltered place (like a large store room) with a picnic table and vending machines as you top the hill and another vending machine on the way out of town.
This day could have been brutal if it’d been hot. All day on open roads with few shade options or villages along the way.
One skittish kitty and one very affectionate dog.
The fellow petting the dog is Pilgrim Damo, from Northern Ireland.
9/12 to Los Arcos
Irache, Spain on the edge of Estella.
The Irache Winery was established in 1891. Their wine fountain is a favorite stop and photo op.
