Stage 4 : Zubiri to Pamplona

(Note:  Due to the tragic demise of my so cool camera I have no way to read the memory card.  So pictures will be posted at a later date, if they survived.)

Today is overcast again with rain on the horizon.  The Albergue that we stayed at had our room on the 2nd floor, my legs were not to happy about that.  Our room mates for last night were two from the Netherlands and three from South Africa.  The South Africans gave Quinn a pin, he is very pleased with it.

So we started our walk at about 7:45 this morning.  Seems to be the usual.  The day was nice overcast but not too cold.   At times there was a light rain, but we didn't even need our jackets.  The path followed mostly along a tree line with trees on one side and wheat fields on the other.  We also followed a river and crossed it a number of times.  Each crossing we were treated with a fancy rock arched bridge.

We passed thru a number of small towns with some older looking houses.  The architecture is starting to change as we go.  One village had a baby donkey, it kinda followed us along its fence.  It was very curious.

We had some nice views and walked thru some cool looking tree tunnels.  You know the kind where the trees join to form a dark natural looking tunnel.  Pretty neat. 

We talked to a lot of friendly pilgrims, met a lady from Canada, saw the usual from Ireland.  Larry the gentlemen from Texas was kind enough to walk at our pace, that really helped to keep Quinn motivated. 

The last 5 or more kilometers were thru the suburbs and city of Pamplona.  We had a grand entrance into the city with its defensive walls.  Unfortunately by this time Quinn was ready to quit for the day and me too.  My knee is three times swollen and my feet hurt.  One fun part about walking thru town is a lot of older spaniards were out walking and asked how old Quinn was and would give him encouragement. All this walking is finally kicking in. 

So we took a break with our Boston friends and had some lunch.  Sitting next to us was a New Yorker and two from New Jersey.  They were taking a motorcycle bike tour, started in Barcelona around the spanish side of the Pyrenees then back around the French side.  Sounds neat.  I guess the company they work for also does a bike tour around the world everything included, I think they said it takes a year.  So before we left the restaurant unfortunately I somehow managed to drop the camera in the toilet.  Yup, it has been one of those days.  It was at least the cleanest water possible in a toilet.  Not sure what I'm going to do tomorrow.

Tonight we are in a two bedroom apartment on the out skirts on Pamplona.  I'm not sure how far we will get tomorrow, it will really depend on my knee which at the moment is elevated with ice.