Day 5 - Estella to Los Arcos

Day 5 – April 7 - Estella (Km 663) to Los Arcos (Km 642) = 21 km - Cumulative - 109

"IT THREATENED TO RAIN THE WHOLE DAY but held off until I reached Los Arcos The scenery is beautiful here. Rolling hills and farmland. The Camino would be a lot easier if the Spanish did not insist on putting all those damn hills in the way. But of course the hills are as much a part of the Camino as the villages and towns and farms and forest and factories.

I decided to stay in a hotel in Los Arcos rather than an alburgue. I wanted to do my laundry, catch up on the internet and maybe try a telephone call. Guess what. No internet, no laundry and no telephone. I call this episode Si Pero No (Yes but No). Yes there is a laundry service but no it is external and it will take two days to get your clothes back. No there is no internet in the hotel but you can go to the Casa Cultural and use a computer there. When is it open? It is open tonight from 5 to 8. Three times I went to the Casa Cultural and it was never open. No there is no telephone in the hotel but you can use the one around the corner or across the square. I am sure they are there but I could not find them."

For those of you smart enough to wonder "if he couldn't use the internet at the Casa Cultural, how did he send this message?" it was sent the day after with that day's update....

Day 4 - Puente la Reina to Estela

Day 4 – April 6 Puente La Reina (Km 685) to Estella (Km 663) = 22 km Cumulative 88

No news is good news.
For the record, the highlighted route on the map may not be 100% identical to the actual Camino.

Day 3 - Pamplona to Puente La Reina

Week 1

Day 3 – April 5 Pamplona (Km 707) to Puente La Reina (KM 685) = 22 km - Cumulative 66 km

" Puente la Reina, Navarra, Spain 08 04 05 16:20

Hi

Once again I am on a timed computer so this is only a check in.

Today 22 km Pamplona to Puente la Reina with only a 300 meter hill to climb and descend. Very nice alburgue. 6 Euros, clean modern and everything you need. And tell Jeff yes my feet are sore, so are everyone's. Tomorrow I might try to get a hotel so I can send some longer messages.

25 days to Leon,

Len"

Day 2 - Zubiri to Pamplona (no bull!)

Week One

Day 2 – April 4 Zubiri (Km 729) to Pamplona (Km 707) = 22 km Cumulative - 44 km

" Pamplona, Navarra Spain 08 04 04 15:55

I am on a timed computer so I may have to cut this short and maybe send another message with a second Euro.

Today from Zubiri to Pamplona 22 km except that I got off the trail a couple of times so it was more like 24. Today I am living Sue's dream and staying in a convent - well ok an albergue that is run by a convent. I am going to send this now, catch up on my messages and then I will send another message. I am fine but my feet hurt and I an going to winnow and re-organize my pack as tomorrow has a steep climb up and down on the way to Puente la Reina.

Len"

Day 1 - Roncesvalles to Zubiri

Week One

Day 1 – April 3 Roncesvalles to Zubiri (Km729) = 22 km - Cumulative 22 km

The first day involves a 400 ft drop in altitude, and reminds Len it is often more painful hiking downhill than up.

"There were about a hundred at Roncesvalles. Sometimes I am alone and some times with others. The first person I met is a Presbyterian minister from Owen Sound - also covers Tobermory and Stokes bay

Len"

ps - Tobermory is where the Lillie family cottage is .... small world!

The last leg to Roncesvalles

Travel - Day 0 - Travel Madrid to Pamplona to Roncesvalles-Orreaga (751 Km to Santiago)

"Good Morning

I wanted to check and make sure that the connection was working and it looks like it is. Yesterday's message was not very smooth as I was still figuring out the computer rental system here. It is 2 Euros for 30 minutes or 3 Euros for 60. And I did not note the time when I started so I was hurrying. Today is smoother."


In the evening Len will attend a Pilgrims Mass at Roncesvalles then dinner - Spanish time (9ish) then off to start hiking first thing tomorrow morning.

It's no joke - On the way to Madrid

Travel - Day -1 - Another relatively uneventful flight from Franfurt to Madrid.

"I did not get a telephone yesterday. When I came out of the baggage hall I asked at the info kiosk (note: I asked for information¡¡). They told me that the telephone kiosks were in the mall in the secure departures area (like at Heathrow I think. Anyway I could not get in there. I will try again as I work my way to Roncesvalles"