So I poked my head out of my own personal window over the camino this morning and saw that the street lights were reflecting from the stone path. It looked wet and it looked slippery. Can’t say I was thrilled with the idea of walking in wet weather but cant say I was thrilled with the idea of staying in the pretend pilgrim hostel. So I arranged for some weight to be sent on to Navarette and I prepared myself for some serious rain walking and put my pack cover and rain jacket on and out the door I went.

It wasn’t too long before the rain picked up and I found a panederia with the baker working away to provide the best croissants yet. The rain was still bearable so I headed out after a cafe con leche and pastry and bid the staff farewell but turned and headed straight back in to pull out my new hiking umbrella and finally give it the acid test for wet weather. The hot weather could wait until the Meseta – about another week away.

Anyway the umbrella made my day. I could walk without being sealed in the plastic bag feel of the coat, I could check my phone directional arrow when things were uncertain without needing to seek shelter. I crossed one of the many pedestrian crossings in sync with a nice young fellow from the USA. “Nice weather for ducks!” I said. He laughed and then we started chatting about the camino destination of the day (as you do) and where you started etc etc. We chatted for quite a while and eventually managed to miss an arrow (as you often do!) and then had to back track when we saw pilgrims off in the distance going a completely different direction. It wasn’t too bad actually, only about a kilometre off!

Turns out I was chatting with a squad leader for wildfire fighters who get flown in by choppers to the problem areas. I did suggest a couple of times that he should move on without feeling guilty as I was very slow however I think he found it interesting discussing different dangerous things in Australia . On the other hand I learned that a Moose is actually responsible for more injuries than bears in some places. Apparently they trample people and chase them down the street in Alaska! Anyway time and rain passed quickly and even though I was disappointed that the cafe at the lake out of Logroño was closed, we saw a couple of squirrels pretending to bury their food so that we wouldn’t know where they had left it.

We passed a new kind of camper van and chatted to numerous other pilgrims along the way. I eventually put the umbrella away and must say it held up well! Very pleased with that purchase. I’ll have to post a photo next time.

A Spanish lady from Bilbao came along singing a few times and on one particular hill decided it was time to teach me how to sware in spanish. Don’t worry Ive forgotten already! I can barely get by with my language expertise as it is = the last thing I want to do is insult someone’s mother! Anyway after chatting with the Spanish linguist and the the Firie the day passed quickly and before I knew it I was in Navarette. We bid each other buen camino and I headed to my hostel. Once there I realised I had stayed in it before and, because I was early I was able to choose a bunk near a window again.

A Korean lawyer with a twisted ankle had the bunk at the other end of the dorm and when the rain pelted down again he offered to share some noodles if I didnt want to go out . I informed him I was very grateful but eager to try some more spanish food. I promised to bring back some wine and so headed out in the downpour.Anyway meanwhile a Hungarian forestry worker and beekeeper arrived with Google translate as our new conversation tool. Let’s just call him the hungry beekeeper. \

I located the pinchos bar I had been told about and also found the Danish girl we had started at Saint Jean with and the ex School Principal from the USA who I had met at Los Arcos only moments after the overcharging incident!

I returned to the albergue and invited the Korean Lawyer and his twisted ankle for a wine (he had chosen Joshua as his English name) and the hungry beekeeper brought an orange and a packet of gummie bears to the kitchen. Not long after a Brazilian Paraguayan arrived drinking hot chocolate and waiting for her husband. We had an entertaining evening with google translate frequently getting us wrong. We polished off the bottle of red wine, the gummie bears and the orange! Joshua had tried for an extra night but was informed the bus load of Koreans were coming tomorrow so it was all booked out! We all planned a swift departure in the morning.

In the midst of all this I noticed stage 1 of a blister forming below one of my surgical scars on my foot. Thankfully I had my sewing kit and alcohol to deal with it in preparation for a long walk on the morrow. Not all alcohol is for drinking you know!

Buenas noches