Hang the socks

As the third full day of walking has been completed, a rhythm for these days of pilgrimage is emerging.   Awaking with the dawn, we pack up and check out of the albergue.  We find a quick breakfast. Then the walking begins in earnest.   21 kilometers seems to be a fair distance to travel each day. Depending on the spacing of the villages, we eat either once or twice during the walk.  So far we have always found a church open that will allow us to celebrate Mass. 

By mid afternoon we check into the next albergue.   First there is a shower, then put on fresh clothes and finally do the laundry by hand. Each albergue has clothes lines for the communal laundry to dry.  The late afternoon is for rest, email, journaling and the like.  Dinner is around 6:30pm.   Then we take in the laundry and go to bed.

Everything seems to dry except the socks. They take longer.  Each morning the last thing to do is hang the socks.

More photos for Flowers

Flowers

Began walking this morning in Puente la Reina, which has a number of community gardens along the Camino.  I thought of the lovely garden at St. Matthew's and prayed for gentle rain to sustain the plants back home.  Along the Way, many wildflowers bloom freely in the hedge.  They are beautiful and fragrant.   It is nice to have time to stop and smell the flowers.   My personal favorite is the dill that grows plentiful and wild along the Way....and I know that God smiles on St. Matthew and its garden.

The Way was relatively easy today.... hills rolling through four villages to reach Estella.  The Way provided quite the study in contrasts.... our walking path ran beside the highway with cars and trucks driving at full speed.   It's humbling to realize the car covered in less than 30 minutes the distance I could cover walking all day.  The Way also followed the ancient Roman road for a while today.  How curious to walk on a road that is over 2000 years old.  How many people have also traveled this very stretch of road?  What a blessing to consider the pace of life and my little place in the history of life! 

Walking

Today we began walking in earnest.  We went around 20km from Cizur Minor to Puente la Reina by Eunate.  It was a beautiful spring day for walking.  We crossed over Alto del Perdon ( the hill of forgiveness) which is lined with windmills.  Passed through a couple of towns and lovely agricultural countryside.   In Eunate we visited a 12th century Knights Templar church, Ermita de Santa Maria.

Go!

Arrived in Pamplona.  Took a taxi to the Cathedral, which is dedicated to the Blessed Mother.   We prayed...got our credentials stamped for the first time....and away we go!  Buen Camino!

Get set

Made it to Madrid safe and sound.  There is snow on the hills here.  It will be interesting to see how much is still on the ground when I get to pamplona in the north.  :)  here is the plane taking us to Pamplona.  

On your mark

The lovely plane that will fly me to Madrid.   The new International concourse is amazing.   Security was straightforward.   All is well....waiting to board.  Buen Camino.