Today’s prescribed walk was 18 miles, rather longer than we find comfortable, so we wanted to go off-stage. But at this point we have nothing booked. As we leave Logrono this morning, we stop at the café, grab a sandwich and our favorite chocolate croissant, and then start walking through the city. We walk through the business area, shops, and through a beautiful park surrounding a reservoir/lake. Many of our photos show you charming medieval villages, but we also walk through the cities and see manufacturing and industrial areas.
Before noon we arrived In Navarrete, a town about mid-way on today’s stage. So far, most villages sit up on hills, so we climb up to the center of the old town and visit another stunning old church. The background music of Gregorian Chant is very soothing. Sara finds that this music touches her soul.
We met Perry and Brian coming out of the church. When we said we had no place for tonight, they recommended the place where they are staying in Ventosa, one of their favorites from a previous trip. We called and they had one room open. It’s the Camino way: as they say, “The camino will provide.” We now have a bed, a plan, and time to spend with people we enjoy.
Brian reminded us of a saying on the Camino: The walk from St. Jean Pied de Port to Burgos is about the body. The walk from Burgos to Leon is about the mind. And the walk from Leon to Santiago is about the spirit. We can certainly see how this part is about the body. The journey is not without discomfort and pain. We see lots of pilgrims struggling with blisters and aches. But as we walk day after day, we can tell we’re getting stronger. And we’re learning how to pace ourselves, and the value of regular breaks: that short rest can make returning to the road so much better.
Tonight in Ventosa, our hostess served us a great dinner: a delicious salad, paella, and bottles of “vino tinto,” red wine from the region, Rioja. There were two other couples, Perry & Brian, and Jean & Bill. Brian is a pastor and theologian, Perry, his wife, is also a pastor, and Bill is a retired Methodist pastor. So we were six Americans in Spain talking about the history of Christianity, so regularly revealed along the Camino, and a bit about American politics.
