It was not difficult to leave the Jesus and Mary before dawn and get on the road! We walked through the still dark streets and the Camino was unusually not so easy to follow but after a few indecisive moments we were back on track. We had breakfast in a cafe on the outskirts of town and the cafe served lovely coffee, tortilla and almond croissants so we felt nice and full. It was still dark when we left the cafe and then, after a few flashes of lightening, the rain started. Rain covers and coats on we continued on the long walk out of Pamplona running into our Aussie friends on the way. For the next couple of hours the rain was on and off and so were our jackets as it was so hot with them on. The wind did a good job of restoring Jenny's hair to its default setting. It was a horrible climb uphill on loose and slippery shingle and the mist obscured the views and so we were relieved to reach a little village with a church and a couple of cafes and the rain stopped! Sue thought she had lost her Pilgrim's Passport and you will only understand how she must have felt if you have been a pilgrim! Onwards and upwards in the wind and rain again we eventually reached Alto Del Perdon, the iconic metal sculpture of pilgrims, horses and donkeys, dedicated to all the pilgrims who walk the Camino de Santiago. The whirring from the wind farms was eerie in the mist and we could see very little of what scenery lay beyond. Strangely it was quite nice to have arrived at that point in such mystic mist. We began the descent which was really ******* the knees and legs with more loose stones and shingle. It was slippery and the concentration needed to plant your poles and find the easiest path was tiring. How wonderful then to suddenly come across a home made lemonade stand run by 2 little children. It was cool and delicious - some might say heaven sent! We eventually arrived in Puenta la Reina and found our Albergue which was over a bar and quite nice, clean and 12 to a dorm - luxury after the night before and we were sharing with David and Jennifer which was nice. Another high spot of the day was soon to happen as we managed to put a wash on!, The first machine wash so far. Little excites a group of middle aged women more than the satisfaction of getting a load done! We had some tapas and beer and then showered and changed. Jenny, Anne and I went for an explore down to the lovely Roman bridge. The sun came out and it was a very pretty little town. Jenny and I found something light to buy (mini Camino posters) and we then bumped into Suzie and invited her to join us for Cava. Fiona, Sue and Jackie joined us and 2 bottles of cava later Anne persuaded the waitress to give us a table downstairs which was very civilised and perfect after such a hard day. I think the waitress was so impressed at our cava drinking (clearly it doesn't happen often as she had to phone to get the bottles brought up from the cellar) that she went out of her way to accommodate us. It was a lovely meal but we all declined the sheep's stomach option (Fiona was tempted) and David and Jennifer joined us and a few glasses of wine later were offering us holidays in Costa Rica! All in bed by 9 after a short and unsuccessful knicker hunt for Anne's black briefs.