Starting Week Two - Navarrete, Roija,

So I walked about 30 km yesterday. It was the longest day yet and may be the longest day ever. I ended up sleeping in a private Albergue, I think. About 42 beds. It was decent and was located next to some ruins that were pretty awesome. It was late so I did not try to do laundry, I forced my gear into the small cabinet so I could leave it and lock it while I went out and had a bite of dinner, came back and showered, called my love and went to bed.

Got up this morning, left the Albergue and went to city center to fill my water in the spigot. I rinsed out the old water as it seemed a bit off, but the new does also. I am sure it is fine but tastes a bit. I walked to Lagrono and stopped for breakfast. I am on my way out of town. Logrono is a big city. I am happy to be leaving the big city and getting back on the Camino. The Camino does guide you through the city, though sometimes a bit questionably, but it always works eventually. I’m off to Navarette, hopefully in a short amount of time. 

I am now at the place I will sleep tonight; Angel is the owner and speaks good English. There are 18 beds in one room. He said yesterday he only had 4 or 5 pilgrims and when I checked in I was number 4. That was at 2:00. It is now about 5:15 and we are almost full. Not so quiet as it was but folks have a place to stay. I was down to no clean socks so today was a mandatory laundry day. Angel washed my clothes for 3 Euros... and I hung things out to dry. Hanging out the window to clip things to the clothes line on the second level was a bit exciting. Hope to pull it in soon.

I felt a blister after I left Logroño (I had put my Birkenstocks on without socks), so I stopped at a bench in the shade and put a Compeed pad on it. Seemed about the same when I got here so I am airing it out and will see how it is in the morning. Prayers are appreciated...

I have continued to be blessed by hearing God inspiring me through the birds. I heard some doves late in the day... a reminder of Hawaii... very nice. I was mostly solo today... spoke with a few folks for a few minutes, but then I or they moved on.

I had a moment today... wondering why I am doing this. It passed... I am listening.

I am listening to the folks here... a gent has a Polaroid camera and is taking a pix of someone every day and interviews them... sounds very intriguing. Mostly younger people here today... one gent who is maybe 50ish is from Ireland... said from nowhere special in Ireland, but when asked where best, suggested Iona is, which is a place our pastor recently visited.

New thought... using a clothesline is a lost art. These are designed to move so you can stand in one place and move the laundry by pulling the line... pulleys on the ends. Folks are not aware so they hang their stuff across two lines... doesn’t work well.

Just talked to a gent. His name is Santiago... he lives in Austin Texas... 19 years old. His Dad walked the Camino before he was band thus his name... Dad walked it two more times after he was born... He figured he needed to walk himself.

I just returned from dinner... very nice meal. Pasta with pesto and salad and wine... not as good as at home, but it was good. The lad from Texas, as well as two ladies from Holland (met today), and a lady from Sweden were at our table... the other table had two Brits and one Frenchman and two Italians if I recall correctly.

Another day in the record books. Ready for the good night of sleep... we shall see.

 Laundry Hanging!