Walking Day 20-Tiebas to Puente la Reina. 19km

Yeah!  We made it, we are done walking for now.  It turned out to be a very hot day, although last night it was in the 40's.  We started about 7:45 walking down from the hillside town and under a big road to find an old railroad track to follow up to a path that lead up over a hill and though farmland most of the way.  We did find a small town to have coffee and a strange but good sandwich of hard bread and bacon or pancetta . 

Note my magic pink runners recover socks.
 

It started to get exciting when we knew we were close to Santa Maria de Eunate and more so when we walked through the arbor and it appeared.  

Eunate is Basque for "a hundred doors".  The chapel dates from 1170.  We don't know why but you are suppose to walk around it without your shoes...the stones on edge are suppose to heal your feet... I'm for that.  I'll tell you, this time around on day 20 was a lot easier on my feet than in 2010 when it was only on day 4 or five.

So we got into Puente la Reina about 1:30 and found are Spanish buddies sitting in a little park by the albergue ...we said good-by with hugs like old friends and walked on to explore the town and decide how to celebrate and what to do next.  

Ended up getting a bus to Pamplona, a bus from there to the train station and are now on a train to Leon where we plan on resting for a few days before heading for Barcelona.

It will take some time to say how we feel about this Camino because it was so different from the last one. Al and I both agree it is so special to spend such intense time with each other where we are mutually dependent on each other always remembering the pilgrim attitude of no complaints and always to showing kindness.  There is just no better way to experience nature than up close walking for days, everyday as though that's the only thing that matters.  You see  plants and birds differently  when you have time to notice that a little bird flying from one bush to another doesn't lift up "his landing gear."

On the train now, I'm remembering how long this took by foot on the last Camino and now it's taking only 4 hrs....but I can't feel the earth on my feet.