Camino Day 5: Pamplona to Puente La Reina

Date: April 5th, 2022

Distance: 15 miles/ 24km

Time: 7.5 hours (8:30-4:00pm)

Our rest day served us so well! Happy faces back on the road. It started off a chilly 30F (-1 C), but it felt breezy compared to what we started in. We crossed through the Citadel and a beautiful university campus to exit Pamplona. We commented on how strange it felt to have arrived to a city by foot and to now leave the same way.

Fields of yellow flowers to the right. Fields of green grass to the left. Pamplona getting smaller and smaller behind us. Mountains on the horizon. Today was a full 360 degree experience.

As it warmed up to 50 degrees, I was down to one layer on the top and bottom… things are looking (warming) up!! I also used poles for the first time today.. I feel like it make my walking more intentional and rythmic and it helped take some pressure off the knees.

After summiting at Alto de Perdon (below), which had an amazing panoramic view of the countryside, we headed back downhill.

We had a very blissful stop for lunch around 2:30pm. Shoes came off. Socks came off. Feet were rubbed on the loose stones under our table. Giant sandwiches and beers were ordered.

After lunch, the girl gang took some solo walking time. Together but separate. Separate but together. After all, everyone has to walk the Camino at their own pace.

I love the picture below. I had taken the lead in a burst of post-lunch energy. At one point, I turned around and saw all 3 of them in row in this stunning setting. Each at out own place on the path, having our own experience & our own thoughts but still there to support and meet each other at our albergue at the end of our walking day.

I turned on my music for the first time on the Camino, and it really elevated the walking experience. Just me… singing out loud on the open road. Reaching the crests of hills as the music crescendoed. Liberating and joyful.

In the lead spot, with no other pilgrims in front of me, I realized how easy it had been to follow and rely on other pilgrims & how easy it was to doubt and wonder if I was on the right path- especially when going through the little towns. But then I’d see a shell in the sidewalk or a little yellow arrow to reaffirm that I was on the right path.

I was reminded today that there’s always little signs that you’re on the right path. You just have to keep your eyes open and trust your intuition. And sing!

Song of the Day: