Hello!  The internet and tablet situation is not working out so great. That being said, I´ll move ahead with my remaining 28…no 27 minutes left of my paid timeon this diñosaur of a pc.

As the internet situation is not improving I´ll be continuing the story from today on. I´ll post the first few days when I have a stable connection and am not on a time limit.

*A NOTe on typos – there will be typos

Today was a 25k day from insdie the old city of Pamplona to the town of Puente la Reina. The name of this town translates to Queen´s Bridge. This town is the traditional meeting point for Spanish and French pilgrims. For many years pilgrims had to swim the river or hire a ferry to cross. Eventually, a queen (whose name escapes me) built a bridge to aid the peregriños in their journey.

Yesterday I stayed in Pamplona for an extra day. After a day of waiting in Pamplona it is great to get back underway. The day of rest was not without its reasons, but the feeling of having a pack on my back and all senses firing to navigate the unknown way is an awesome feeling. The first steps away fromt he albergue (the pilgrim´s hostel) and I feel like a ship underway. The mesh of my pack creaks like a sail snapping taught under a hale wind.

And windy it is. after leaving the outskirts of the city Iam buffeted by winds rolling off the surrounding farmlands. The sky is dark, the air cold, and the threat of rain is palpable. The beauty of the surrounding mountains and farmland is not dulled in the least by the darkness. Our walking group has grown, more classmates have materialized in Pamplona and joined the troupe. How people appear, dissappear, and reappear during the walk is worth a post in itself and I´ll write on it soon enough. I hear mention of the walk being ¨boring¨without people to chat to. Hearing this I know the group is not the place for me. I pull away mid morning and continue to mount a muddy ridge that is host to kilometers long line of gigantic wind turbines. Upon spotting them I am reminded of Cervantes and Don Quixote. their 20m limbs whir with vibrant power from the blustering wind, their space shuttle white bright against the swirling navy of the cloudy sky. The path passes right underneath them. They are not of nature, but they have their own odd beauty.

I deviate from the path to explore the tuimble down ruins of an old home. It is made of field stone, placed by hand, and I look through the would be windows and imagine the morning views of whomever made their lives inthat place. the darkside selfie was taken here. At the crest of the ridge there is a metal scultupre of pilgrims leaning into the wind. This was commisioned by the power company that built the wind turbines in order to appease teh pilgrim´s society that oppoosed the building of the wind farm. There is also the last standing stones, now reinforced, of a chapel that once resided here. Those that made it this far were ¨guarnteed their spiritual health¨should they die on the way to Santiago. Far from morbid, it is a comforting.

I pick up trash on the way, including a bag of dog shit. Not for nature, per se, but because I know that it will make it morebeautiful for those who come after me. Felt wrong to leave it in that place.

6mins left before the pc shuts down!!!

Over the ridge and teh wind stops almost immediately. The sun comes out and teh beauty as to be seen,hear, smelled, and touched to be understood. A few pictures will help to convey the idea of the feeling that each place evoked.

I walk through several more small towns and my confidence and excitment grow as it does each day when I near the destination. Entering Puente la Reina I find family gardenpplots. I want to do a post on ag practices I´ve seen lots of interesting old techniques.

Outta time, love you all,will post again soon as I can,thanks for everything, buen camino!

njh