Day 6: Pamplona to Puenta de la Reina

Miles: 17.48/ Steps: 37,278

Todays Selfies!

We had the best stay last night in the hotel. The room was dark, the beds were comfortable and we slept so well. My legs were super sore though and the soreness woke me up every time I moved. I always fell right back to sleep but the struggle was real! We didn’t wake up until 6:30am but still managed to get out the door by 7:00am!

The path out of Pamplona was very well marked. We saw a few people still celebrating the evening away and a lot of bicyclists but aside from that the roads were very quiet.

Once we got out of town, the road was bordered by all kinds of flowers and weeds. They were beautiful.

After about an hour, we stopped and I had my favorite Spanish breakfast…chocolate croissant, fresh squeezed OJ and café con leche. It always hits the spot!

And then we were back on our way!

The arrow points to Alto de Pardon. It marked the highest point on todays hike and was almost the midway point. In English, Alto de Pardon translates to the Hill of Forgiveness.

Funny story…or not…I was on the final stretch up to Alto de Pardon and I was admiring all the rocks because they were perfect for painting. My mouth was open because I was breathing pretty hard from the steep path. All of a sudden, the biggest bug flew into my mouth and down my throat and I totally started choking. It took me forever to get it cleared and the dance I did while I was choking was anything but graceful!

More random pictures from the day:

The last 3-4 miles always seem to take forever. I thought I had booked the same hostel as Nikki but when we pulled up our reservations to navigate to it, I realized I had booked a place further down the road. We left to go on our seperate ways and I discovered that not only was I booked at a a campground but it it was also a kilometer in the wrong direction and I was tired. Randomly, I walked into the first Alburgue (Alburgue Puente) I saw and there was Nikki! ….and they had one bed left but it was on the 3rd floor. I was tired but I wasn’t going to complain but the 3 flights of stairs were the end of me after such a long day!! I got a top bunk and this was the first alburgue that didn’t provide a sheet. I ended up laying my towel and scarf down because I couldn’t imagine sleeping on the plastic mattress without something underneath me. This, coupled with the lack of air flow made it a hot night.

The alburgue manager did let me know he had an arrangement with a local masseuse if I was interested and you can bet that I signed up! Walking thru town to get there was magical. Small streets, old buildings and doors and no people around.

Isabelle, the masseuse, was lovely and I don’t think I will forget that massage for a long time. Firstly I have never hurt so bad in a massage in my life. I’ve had a lot of deep tissue massages but never like that. She spent a lot of time helping me thru the tightness. She gave some tips on things that I should do, and even had me walk thru the hall so she could critique my walking. She was amazing.

After the massage, I met up with my friends and we had a lovely dinner.
It was just a great day.

Foot update: I have lost half the skin on my pinky right foot. My pinky left foot was trying to fit in and now they are both being annoying. Blister on right foot big toe needed to be drained again tonight. None hurt really bad while walking so that’s good!