Last night was a really good experience. The tapas bars were so busy. The food was good and the local Rioja was even better. Our night was cut short by the fact our albergue (hostel) closed it’s doors at 10pm. We got back just in time to find the gates already locked….! Hahaha… The panic started, I found it all very funny, possibly one to many Rioja’s?! After a while another door opened and one of the staff let us all in. We all had to be very quiet and sneak into our dorms.
In the morning it was another noisy early start. I was nice and carried all my things into the hallway to pack, so as not to be another annoying rustling pilgrim.
I left at what had become my usual time of 6.30am, once again Gus walked with me. The signs out of Logroño weren’t the best but we managed to head the right way. The morning was fresh, the sun was out and there were no clouds in the sky, but the air was cold.
After leaving the city we climbed up to a local reservoir, early morning fisherman already set up with their rods out. As we passed, fish were jumping, we also saw two red squirrels and a hoopoe. We crossed a small bridge over a corner of the lake and beneath us were dozens of carp, feeding in the shallows.
We carried on, the road being fairly easy today. Arriving in Navarrete earlier than expected we stopped at a cafe for a quick drink and to use their facilities. We joined a host of other pilgrims, whilst others carried on past. Half an hour and we were back on the path, passing through more vines, another hilltop village and eventually a round stone build structure which is the site where Roland is reputed to have slain Ferragut, a Syrian giant supposedly descended from Goliath, with a huge stone, in the same way as David & Goliath. From here we could see Nájera ahead. It wasn’t far…
The walk into Nájera seemed to take longer than expected but eventually we found the centre and began to look for the Albergue. A very kind local pointed Gus & I in the right direction, so we crossed the river and joined a queue to get a bed. The albergue was basic but adequate and as they only asked for donations I couldn’t really complain.
Late afternoon sitting on the river bank with an ice cold beer, watching the storks flying overhead, while swifts, swallows and one of the types of martins flew acrobatically over the river.
Tonight Man Utd play Barcelona, woo hoo… Just because I’m English doesn’t mean I support a game played by overpaid vain nancy boys. If any footballers read this, sorry these are my views and you wont change them! I’ve met a few when I worked in photography and apart from Mr David James (who I believe was a goalkeeper) and a very nice chap, the others were ignorant muppets, I won’t mention any more names, Scholes & Gerard…
Instead of watching the game, I look into hotels for Santiago and Hitec Magnum’s website trying to see how to get a pair out to me…!?!
I have a very quiet and early Saturday night.