Day 11 rest day in Logrono

Miles walked, 0. But legs and feet are feeling better. Bought some more socks. Dry socks , I am learning, and really have always known are so important. Wet clothing macerates the skin, causing blisters and skin breakdown. Even though I have been trying to change socks midday, the weather has become warm and with sweating, you have to be careful.
I lost my bad left foot toenail last night, all I can say is GROSS ! Doesn't hurt a bit though.
Doesn't hurt, and this all stems from being wet about a week ago. We have had a bit of rain, probably 3 days, and it make things so much harder.

Also bought some voltarin cream for muscle aches, everyone here swears by it, we shall see. I am in no pain at present, but my legs were aching last night. Elevated them on a pillow and that helped, I don't want to take too much ibuprofen. Bad for the tummy. It is called brufin here.
Looked at pedometers and found one for 20 euros. I didn't buy it. But considering. Control issues.
Problem is- directions are in Spanish.
Not much else going on, I'm going to go to bed early, so we can get an early start.
Below is a picture from our room. This albuergue is a converted hotel albuergue para peregrines, and it's quite nice. Jasmine  and I are splitting a room, 20 euros each for a private room with a balcony.

Day 10 Torres del Rio to Lograno

Kilometers traveled 22- approximately 13.2 miles. Elevation change 250 meters, 750 feet up and then down. - hard again on the toes, although the path was good, no mud.

I think I am just tired, today was a good, long, but hard day. My left small toe developed a blister, a small one on the inside of the toe and I think I'm going to lose 2 toenails, on on my left and one on my right foot. None of them are painful, but my feet calves, and knees feel sore today. Ibuprofen is my friend.
We've decided to take a rest day tomorrow, rain is in the forecast, and the albuergue we are in is nice, although the wireless comes and goes. We are in Logrono, a fairly large city, it has a university, and has beautiful parks. It will give us all a little time to heal and regroup. I have taken no rest days yet, so I am due.
The weather is warm not too hot though. The path was good, no mud, so the walking wasn't bad.
I saw a beautiful church in the town of Viana, and I have pictures of it. I lit a candle for my dad while there, and spent some time in prayer there.
In my really tired afternoon, a pretty butterfly led me down the path, and it was just so neat. I imagined it to be my loved ones who are gone, leading me. I was especially thinking of my brother Bill who died many years ago today. Tired, but blessed hallucinations!
Not much else for today. Here are pix of my traveling friends at dinner last night, Alex and Anna, and Yasmine, from the United Kingdom.
Til tomorrow all!

Day 9 Villa Mayor de Monjardin to Torres del Rio

Km walked 19.5 today, about 11.7 miles -- elevation negligible.

Today was a bright sunny day. Warm.. But good for this Florida girl, who likes warm. When I started out this morning, I had on 4 layers, and got down to 2 shirts. Using sunscreen. Things are going well, feet are better. No pain today. I have become very conscious of stretching well, and really paying attention to what is hurting and stretching accordingly. Things are well, I walked today with friends from Portugal, pictured below, and a woman from South Africa, Jasmine- yaz--, who is about my age, and we seem similar in our strength of walking.
Below are pix of the terrain, which is changing, and of the harvesting of white asparagus, very popular here. They keep it covered so that the sun can't reach it to change it green.
Problem of the day- my pedometer stopped working, and I found a tobacco shop, kind of like the all purpose store, and had the battery replaced. Cost 4 euros, and it still doesn't work. I guess it's a sign from God to quit trying to be in control, and just go with the flow. I am so task driven, making lists all day, and I take this as a sign to just relax.
Not much else to report, it's been a delightful flat day, still only making about 2 mph, with my 15 pound pack, but all is well. It is supposed to rain tomorrow, so will see  how things go.

Day 8 Villatuerta to Villamayor de Monjardin

Kilometers traveled 13.1 Approximately 7 miles. Elevation climb, approximately 350 meters, 1000 feet.

Hi everyone, I would just like to thank you all for your words of support. They have been great to read, and every comment on my Facebook and in my emails make me smile with joy. This morning, I decided to make it a shorter day, not truly a rest day, but a shorter day overall. I am feeling fine, although my feet could use the rest they feel sore over all, and today, my right big toenail is looking bruised.
So this morning, I left Villatuerta just before 8. I went to bed at 8:30 last night and slept until 7.
When I reached the town of Estella, I walked into town  just in time for 9 am mass. The church was beautiful, and I received communion, and lit a candle, in honor of my 3 wonderful children.

I had a pretty big climb today, but it was mostly on a 6 foot wide gravel track, with no mud, which made my day much easier than expected. I met up with a woman who I met at the beginning of the trek from Dubai. It's great how you keep running into people over and over again.
Things are going well over all, I am tired today, and I'm considering doing a shorter day tomorrow, although rain is in the forecast for midweek...... I am in a really nice hostel as I write this, which has wifi and a hot shower.
Below are some pictures of my hostel last night, the paella the alburgue owners cooked for dinner last night, the church this morning, and the stairs I had to climb to get into the church this morning, I was on a mission to make it to mass! The mass was beautiful, even though I didnt understand the homily, and i lit a candle for my children, whom i love and am missing talking to today...
That's all for today! Happy Mothers Day, all of you moms out there, I am missing mine today, and I dedicate my walk today to my mom.

Day 7 Puenta la Reina to Villatuerta

20 km. 12 miles, elevation climb was rolling hills with one 600 foot hill and many other small hills.

I have decided that Spain is a very hilly country, when I first looked ar elevation maps, the hills didn't look as high as they are. But.... For a Florida girl who lives at sea level, it's a climb for sure.
It was a sad day for me, John left this morning, after a teary goodbye. His camino is over, and now I'm on my own. I've seen many of the same people, we keep crossing paths, but my partner who watches my back is gone. Sad.

walking was hard without him, and there were many hills, with one big one. I passed by wheat fields, and grape vines galore. I am now checked into an albuergue, a hostel with 5 beds in my room. 2 of the people I know, as we have met over and over, Alex and Ana from Lisbon Portugal a very nice couple. I chatted with many elderly people along the path today, many in their 70s.
All in all, a good day. I did the 20 km 12 miles in about 7 hours, with a couple of stops. My average is 2 miles an hour. A lot slower than I walk at home. All of that mountain climbing. My body feels good. Legs are holding up. My feet are doing pretty well...

Pictures attached are from our room last night and the countryside today. A cemetery, surrounded by a concrete wall and all chained up, the rolling countryside of the day. I will take some pix of my albuergue to post tomorrow.

Day 6 Cizur Menor to Punta de la Reina

Day 6 Friday - 20 kilometers or about 12 miles with another big climb
The sunny weather returned and we climbed about 900 feet get to the top where the iron pilgrim statues are located.  We are definitely more fit already. It's been a great day, the sun shined all day. The temperature in the mornings seem to be low 50s and it goes into the 70's during the day. Today's uphill wasn't bad, the downhills seem to be the really painful part, my toes are on not great shape. I have a blister under my 3rd left toenail, and a small one on the outside of my left foot. The rest of me is good though.
John is leaving in the morning. I am so sad, it's going to be definitely different walking without him. All in all, though, I'm doing this for me. So all will be well.
Tomorrow will be a flatter day.
Things I learned today.

If there is a little bit of mud, that's ok, but a lot of mud, makes the going harder.
Kind of like in life.
Also, up hills go easier, the more you do them. My breath was definitely better today.
Next thing I learned- put on your raincoat if it looks like rain, and that will keep the rain away... Maybe.
Ok gotta go, we have a hotel room for the night, we have just had a nice dinner, and we are heading up for a good sound sleep for the night.

Day 5 Trinidad de Arre to Cizur Menor

Kilometers walked about 11 - 7 miles. Negligible elevation change. Weather- rained most of the day.

Today we spent a good amount of timewalking through and past Pamplona. The weather was about 55 degrees with rain most of the day, so we stopped our walk shorter then we intended. Tomorrow we will walk over the mountain of Alto de Perdon, a 1000 feet climb- 400 meters, and we had no interest in doing it in the rain. So hopefully, we will have better weather tomorrow.
I am sitting at the Roncal maribel albuergue, 10 euros each, in the kitchen wifi room. Most of the places we stay have sort of a family room with a kitchen and free wireless. It's been really handy with the iPad mini so far. I am using it as a camera too, so it's easier to download pictures right from it.
Our room had 5 bunk beds, 10 beds  in it. Not bad so far, we haven't had any exposure to big time snorers. All of the people are so great, we picked up some groceries and ate lunch in the kitchen with 3 Canadian sisters.
My feet are doing pretty good, still have the left toe problems, going to lose that nail for sure. Otherwise feeling strong and confident.
Tomorrow is John's last day of walking, we are going to splurge on a hotel tomorrow night before he leaves.
This walk is no easy walk... And I'm going to miss his support.

I am loving this time to meditate and pray. We have tried to make mass whenever there is one, and that is so comforting at the end of the day. I have been carrying Eric and Andrea's rosaries and praying as I walk, although I am usually needing to hold my walking sticks.
Today's pictures are of the 82 year old woman named Korine from the Netherlands that we met yesterday, she was trucking it out of town this morning, and she planned to go over the mountain today. Also are pictures of Pamplona today. Didn't take many pictures today with the rain. The street pictures are of the street where Hemingway was, and where the running of the bulls takes place. The church is the cathedral of Pamplona, built around1400.