Day 12 31 May from Navarette to Najera 17 km

Ancient stone column- mystical light shining as we walk through gently undulating farmland leaving Navarrete..

Always the yellow arrow to show the way...

Note the St James depicted as a pilgrim/ peregrino on the right arm of this sign.

So many churches, this one a few  Kilometres on the way out of Navarette ..

Beautiful light on the wheat fields as we head towards the little village of Ventosa for coffee hot chocolate and croissant...(chocolate of course!

And it's raining again... But it doesn't dampen our spirits..

Strange beehive building..

We pass over such a pretty little bridge a few Kilometres from Najera..

And I put my aching feet into ice cold running water... Pure heaven...they say that ice helps soothe bunions...

Other peregrinos decide to do the same... Lots of limping peregrinos around now... The miles take their toll on the body...

Yay! Only 1 km plus a bit to our Auberge...always warnings when we cross a busy road...

How cute is this sign...

Such a warm welcome into Najera..

We walk through the town across the bridge.. Interesting cliff behind

Our Hostel tonight - we have a private room with two single beds and share a bathroom..

Very nice clean place- cost is 40E for the two of us.  Accommodation is cheap, but food really expensive- we spend about 30E a day each on food...

There's always place in the entrance to put boots and sticks- boots are always muddy, sticks too...

We end the day by going to a pilgrims mass, understanding nothing for the entire service is in Spanish - 

But it feels good and at the end the pilgrims get a blessing. 

St James or Santiago depicted as pilgrim on the right...

Day 11 30 May - a day of rest and reflection -The ways on The Way

Life is like the different paths on The Way- 

Sometimes you can see forever...

some roads are a little bleak...

Some roads are green ...

Sometimes you can't see the way forward...

Some times are easier and the way is easy...

Other times if you look around there is so much beauty, even if muddy underfoot... Where is my attention today?

Leafy green paths...

And then life can be a balancing act ....

Remembering to be grateful and to balance life...

Stoney and slippery but all is well if you stay present in the moment...one step at a time...

Walking towards a goal...

Walking along paths that many many have walked on from long ago...

Seriously slippery...intense focus...

And then beauty and peace in nature...

At the end of the day when tired it takes forever to arrive..

The surprises in life...

Persistence...

Special Moments ....

Walking to the village of Cirauqui - so exciting to recognize the picture we chose for our blog! 

Going over the Pyrenees was a highlight- the weather was sooo bad, hail winds of up to 50 km/h,

Rain and freezing cold- the hail felt like bullets .. Many people got into trouble that day, a woman broke her collarbone, another fell on her face, another twisted an ankle.. Everyone said it was really hard- but we did it!  Really proud!

At the top! Views forever....

At Roncevalles monastery after crossing the Pyrenees - the sun came out after arriving drenched. All boots drying in the sun and a couple of old men snoozing in the afternoon sun..( could one be Rob?)

After a day of walking over 20 km. A moment on a park bench with feet up...

Another moment in the sun ... Very important to take socks and shoes off every two hours to prevent blisters

Free wine fountain...we had heard about this and came upon it quite suddenly - such fun drinking wine at 8 a.m. In the morning...

These figures the Alto del Perdon monument to pilgrims are so famous and it was a real thrill to be at the top overlooking valleys forever before the mist closed in...

Pilgrims all along the way obsess over their feet... 

Wild cherries- good for cleaning the system...!!!

The "bar" in the middle of nowhere.. Nothing like a cuppa hot chocolate/ coffee.. And a rest.

So much rain and celebrating a bit of wind to dry our washing on the back of our rucksacks...

I loved this entrance to the village if Najera...

The communal meals are great fun, everybody stopping stories of where they are from..