Camino Day 6: Puenta la Reina to Estella

Delivery of the adapter that we accidentally left in Cizur Menor, 7
Hostel, 7
Laundry, 3
Wine, 5

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As if to make due for all of yesterday's difficulties, today was a real prize winner as far as the Camino goes. The skies parted just after sunrise and we saw mixed sun and cloud for the rest of the day - enough sun to keep things cheerful and enough cloud to keep the temperatures cool. The trail was as flat as we've seen it so far and, most importantly, we walked most of the day on dirt paths that were much gentler on the feet than concrete and asphalt.

We wrapped up the day's journey in Estella at the town's municipal albergue and my feet felt fairly okay for a change. The albergue is a bit on the crowded side with about 18 beds in each room, but the bathrooms and showers are pretty clean and appear to have been recently renovated. The albergue also has a large kitchen and nice courtyard with a tree a grassy area.

On the down side, we bid goodbye to a couple of fellow travelers who came to the conclusion that the foot/leg ailments they were suffering were severe enough that it was time to get off the road. In both cases, they probably should have gotten off the road about 30km ago, but I expect no one says an early goodbye to the Camino until it's obvious there are no other options.

We've been with the same group of hikers, more or less, for almost a week now - each night we see a few new faces and catch up with a good number of familiar ones. We've walked more than 100km of the toughest stretch of the Camino together, shared food and given each other support and encouragement. It was surprisingly sad to hear the news two of our new friends were leaving and we lingered over our goodbyes, taking pictures and wishing each other well.

There's a tinge of sadness in the hostel tonight though, as is more common as of late, the general mood is one of relaxation and playfulness. In the final moments before lights-out, eighteen of us jostle for space in the cramped dorm. We joke with each other, engage in good-natured teasing and clumsily climb into bunk beds that are spaced a little too closely together - okay, much too closely together. Pillow fights almost break out. When we finally settle into our sleeping bags it takes a few moments for things to calm down completely. We call out our good nights to each other in the darkness. "Buenos noches. Bonne nuit. Goodnight. Hasta tomorrow."