Estella

It is a bright, sunny day as the full 2022 Camino squad heads out together for the first time. It is a “short” 13 miles across mostly flat terrain to our next stop in Estella and optimism is in the air.

We’re still in farm country, mostly wheat, but it has gotten noticeably more dry and dusty. Not unbearably hot yet, thankfully, but where the trek to Finisterre scored a 9, and the Pyrenees clocked with a 7, this part of the trail maybe warrants a 5. Every so often though, we do come across a field of sunflowers which I don’t think I have ever actually seen before. It’s a small, but meaningful, win.

Not far ahead we discover the original Olive Gardzen. There have no breadsticks, sadly, but there is a helpful sign to provide encouragement that we are making slow, yet steady, progress – just 676 kilometers to go.

For her first day on the trail, 13 miles is a stellar effort for Efe Bomba, although it is probably 3 or 4 miles too much. Arándano Joe is also suffering a bit so we’ve taken advantage of stopping in a reasonable sized town and upgraded his footwear to something a little more rugged.

This is also our first experience using the service that shuttles luggage from stop to stop. There was a touch of anxiety leaving it in a locker this morning with 5 Euros tucked in an envelope but, lo and behold, it is patiently waiting for us when we check in to our hotel in Estella.

One more stage in the books.