DAVE: The walk from Puente La Reina to Estella was not too strenuous for us. We are moving away from the Pyrenees so the elevation changes are not too severe. Our bodies are getting accustomed to the daily punishment, although not without some protests. Besides some minor hip and back aches from time to time (thank goodness for ibuprofen) some of us are developing blisters on our feet. Jim is now checking us out daily and taping us up when necessary. From here on out, I fear our feet will be a continuous problem. We'll see.
We passed through several villages on our way to Estella, each with their own charm. The overcast skies helped to keep the day generally cool. Tropical storm Henri is close by so we're getting the effects of that storm. Near the end of the day, rain showers become heavy enough for us to pull out the ponchos, rain pants, umbrellas, and backpack covers. Sometimes it feels like I'm walking while wearing a plastic bag. Not fun at all.
Our days are quite simple by this time. We're definitely getting our routine down. We awaken around 5:00 or so and start the morning ritual (beat the other pilgrims to the bathroom, re-pack our gear, dress, then grab breakfast. We hope to start walking by 7:00 in the morning, but that is a challenge with six individuals. Laercio, our lastest addition to the "family" is from Brazil. His native tongue is Portuguese so when we walk together, the conversations are part Portuguese, Spanish, with some English thrown in as well. What a trip!
As we walk now, the trail is becoming a more westerly route. We walk on towards Santiago.
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