Azueta- home of cats sticks and cakes

We stopped at bar alka something and really we struggling that morning. Easterly estrella was one of the hostels we left at 9.40 but after stopping in town for breakfast we only got a whistle worth of wine at the Fuentes irache- free vino fountain . We walked on and up for a while and arrived here at midday. With 5 km in the bag we only had another 16 to go...so plenty time to eat the cookies

Villambistia albergue

The thing about the back door is it usually closes behind you, meaning if you leave something inside you have to wait a while to get it back

Leaving Ventosa

It's quite an easy stroll down out of Ventosa before then climbing through a river valley part of the path. Good terrain for the man with the doc martens. As you clamber up this lightly forested section you draw inspiration from the summit and this one happens quickly. Through the gap in the trees is framed a spectacularly sprawling landscape. Najera and beyond.

Climbing out of Pamplona

There's always a good reason to rest the shoulders on the first day. This body is clearly a Temple but mine is a carcass and all I had the strength to do was take the photo. With 300 miles to go I was glad I was stopping before Santiago. Stuart was showing one weakness and I was all for exploiting it! Don't let me put you off wearing doc martens I'd said a week earlier but what I hadn't known was they had cracked and had holes either side. Perfect for the wee stones, aka the blister starting stones. So yes we stopped regularly on these paths. Such was my pilgrim duty.

Najera path is blocked but we ain't in a hurry

Day 7 santo Domingo

3am hotel Fernan Gonzalez

A parting shot