Sur le Chemin de Arles,Via Tolosana

Sur le Chemin de Arles,Via Tolosana
pilgrim route from Toulouse to Puente la Reina

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Walking Day 4

What a day! 32k in blazing heat by late afternoon. Feet are killing me and little toe now has 2 blisters, dehydrated, sun rash on right arm-a real mess. Really over did it.

Actually the day started out great. Said goodby to the Pyreneese, beachwoods and Pine forests and the sites back toward Pamplona. Say hello to stones, rocks, rocky fields and a rocky Way. Last night in Cizur Menor the town was having a dedication festival with fire works and dancing tall puppets and lots of candy thrown to the kids.
We left this morning at 6:45 and climbed steadily for two hrs to the 790m Alto del Perdon , a sculpture dedicated to pilgrims. That entire ridge is lined with wind mills. Beautiful up there , looking back to Pamplona. From there of course an even steeper downhill on really rocky path into the next valley...now starting to heat up. Took a 1.5k detour to see the Eunate church linked with the Knight Templars and also a burial site for pilgrims who had succumbed along the Way. It is an octagonal form, very cool.
In the valley we were treated to endless miles of blackberries, gardens and fields of asparagus, tomatoes, beans and corn. When we got to Puente La Reina it was very busy. So we decided to keep walking over the Queens bridge to the next town....not a good idea. Next town's albergue was closed, so had to keep walking. Now close to 100 degrees I'd guess... And way up on a hill you could see the medieval town of Cirauqui. Beautiful to say the least, so far my favorite town. Even went to Mass before the pilgrim meal at the Albergue. Al and I were so beat we opted for a more expensive private room so we'd have are own shower at a whopping 40 euro.
A great meal with all the crazy Aussie and Germans , esparagus soup and pasta wine and bread, about 10 Euros. So now if I can get back my energy and restore my feet over night all will be well again on the Camino.
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