Monday - June 3, 2013
A warm sunny day in Navarra, Spain. Pack is much heavier as it now has all the extra layers that I don't need on me anymore and it has my hiking boots and jacket stuffed inside. Finally in shorts and Tevas, there is a brisk head wind but that just cools you down.We took the variant path to the gorge and were not disappointed. The path from the town of Liedena is a gravel path which was a former railway track that follows the Irati river and the base of the cliffs of Cresta Trinidad to the gorge, Foz de Lumbier.
It was stunning and Al counted over thirty huge birds soaring on the thermals and nesting in the cliffs. We think they were Griffon vultures and other raptors. Gorge is over 150 mts deep and has two tunnels in and out and one is over 206m. Wish I had a long lens for the birds.
The rest to the day, actually from 8:30 till we got to the Albergue was all up hill. Walking up a Valley over a pass always getting closer to windmills on the ridges. Decided to call it a day around 2:45 as we enter the tiny community of Izco. A women in a car stopped on the hill as we were climbing up to the town and asked if we were needing a place to stay for the night, answering yes she told us to just sit in the sun by the Albergue and she'd be back in about 30 mins. So we are the only ones here tonight but that's ok. Our friends didn't go to the gorge and walked on further to the next town...that's the way of the Camino. Looks like noodles and tuna tonight no meals here just a little pantry you can buy a few items and cook them in the Albergue kitchen.
Al and I have been so fortunate to not have any feet, shoulder or knee issuers this trip...having said that, last night was the first that I started really feeling my feet but just the Achilles' tendons . I think they are a bit bruised from steep uphill trudging in my boots.. Anyway tried the Tevas today as there was no mud and they seem to be a little better. Only two walking days left if all goes well. We are ahead of schedule. Hummmmm, maybe rest a day along the way? Pictures today taken with Al's iPad Mimi.
Clothes drying out side alberque.
Late arrivals .....two Spanish pilgrims came in the back door about 6:45, boisterous and glad to be here. They had walked 40 Km . They plunked there stuff down on a bed and started taking off their shoes...the caretaker was due back at 7:00 to open up the pantry store for us so she signed them in and actually opened the bar for them to get a beer... We had a great evening with them. Funny pair, they had opposite personalities but lots of fun. One kept telling the other not to be so theatrical...dinner was lentil soup and noodles Parmesan and of course bread and wine. No heat in these communal albergues but lots of wool blankets. I think the entire cost for the night including stuff we fixed for dinner , wine , breakfast and cheese and bread for today's lunch was 39 Eu.
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