Punta la Reina to Estella I left the albergue before the sun was up, walking the quiet streets of Puenta le Reina with my great companions since day one, Èd and Carol. The first sharp uphill climb saw me sweating profusely with the exertion at such an early hour. It's funny that there are never any photos of the steep climbs and by the evening, the memory has also erased such experiences! In the small village of Cirauqui, we stopped for a drink and I took the opportunity to ring my Mum. Throughout my life, she has been a wonderful source of encouragement and support in everything I do. She is 92 now and following my blog on her iPad, vicariously walking every step of the way with me. Mum, I know you already know this, I love you very much. Mainly trails again this afternoon through small towns and chatting to other walkers. I met two young women from Chiłe and Colombia just back from an assignment in *****ia with Medicin Sans Frontiers - fantastic people doing fantastic work. Tonight I am in a big Youth Hostel up a steep hill out of town but it's a relief not to see bunk beds. A major equipment malfunction is that my Berghaus boots have cracked which is alarming and so I need to find a 'duck tape shop' or an outdoor gear place pretty soon.