I left my very comfortable and warm hotel to venture forth at 7 am. I had done the right thing by adding my trouser bits to my shorts, because it was a absolutely chucking it down with rain. As it was a Sunday I was expecting no one to be around, but the streets were harbouring a ridiculous number of hung over revellers from the fiesta the night before. Fortunately, there were pilgrims in front of me, who made getting out of the town and noticing the directions much easier. I didn't like Logrono that much. It was a simple provincial town with not that much to offer and I was glad to be leaving.
The wind was gushing directly into me and the rain too felt like a billion daggers hitting my face. It was clear that the next 30 km were going to be tough and I wasn't wrong.
To top it all the scenery wasn't that great either being largely industrial landscape.
I stopped in Navarette. There was a convenient bar and because I was ahead of the walking pack it wasn't too crowded. A warming cafe con leche and a croissant with butter and jam cost me 2 euros, pretty astonishing really.
The food in general along the way has been incredibly good value as long as you stay out of the tourist traps. There are many places on route mainly for the peligrinos and I think it must be sheer economies of scale that keep the prices down. There are many pilgrims now, more coming in from other joining towns like Pamplona and the albergues are becoming busier even though there are more of them. I have to say that it is taking some control my part not to feel as though I am on some kind of conveyor belt. Fortunately I have discovered, especially after completing this stage in 6 hours (30km)that I am quite a strong fast walker. I am really starting to believe that I can do this ie get to Santiago. As long as I don't get injured I think I can make it. I am walking faster than than most women. I don't want to appear big headed but its true. Maybe this is why I was gifted with wide feet, lager than average calves and strong thighs. Maybe I was born to walk.
I walked the last 15km with Tobias from near the Black Forest Germany. He was great company and I was impressed with now be could walk so fast in a pair of crocs. We talked about Germany's role in the EU and discovered that the Germans in general have a view that the UK wants to leave. No surprise there then.
We arrived at the municipal albergue before the crowds. It was very basic and clean all for the cost of whatever donation you wanted to make.
I have met a number of people who have been walking for a very long time. People walking all the way from Holland and Le Puy in France. Others on the other hand have little time and are skipping walking stages by taking the train bus or cab
I really hope the weather is better tomorrow I wasn't expecting this sort of weather. Then again, I don't know what to expect anymore,maybe that's a good life lesson.