Hi everyone. Well we have just completed our first stage of our Camino - 113 km over 5 days starting from Saint Jean Pied De Port where we stayed in a most delightful albergue clean and friendly and we went to the Pilgrims mass at the Cathedral. On 27 April we began our Camino walking over the Pyranees to Roncevalles 25km to our first stop. It was a hard tough climb up, starting off quite misty, but the sun came out eventually and we were able to see the beautiful mountainous scenery, still some snow on the road sides that had fallen last week. Second day to Zubriri was rain and mud most of the day for 21 km!! This slowed us down a lot trying to contend with walking along the paths that had become muddy streams almost ankle deep with water in places. We arrived in Zubriri, looking like drowned ¨muddy¨ rats! We found a place to stay, a pension, but had to walk up 5 floors to our room!! Third day we walked 20.7km to Pamplona - weather was better, sunny and flatter paths, however, Wendy had problems with her left leg and foot, and she virtually limped into Pamplona and broke down into tears. We found a place to stay, Stewart attended to Wendy´s injuries, massaging in cream and carrying most of her load. Wendy recovered by the next day, but walked in her crocs to Puenta la Reina 23.5km. We got to Alto Del Perdon and saw the amazing  Pilgrim metal statues on the hill after a treacherous climb up a very muddy and slippery path. We walked back down the other side on to Puenta la Reina. We treated ourselves to a hotel where we had our own room - very basic but spotless and we spoilt ourselves to an " eat as much as you like" buffet and we ate like kings.

Fifth day we walked  22km to Estella lovely sunny day but pretty exhausted. We stayed in a Parish Hostel called Albergue Parroquial San Miguel where we only had to pay a donation which included a bed for the night, an evening meal and breakfast - all basic but very clean and friendly. We slept in a dorm with about 14 others - mostly cyclists. Stew went to the Pilgrims mass in the most amazing old cathedral.

Today we caught a bus to Logrono, Stewart not feeling too well so we are having a rest day today and we catch a bus later this afternoon at about 3pm to Leon where we hope to stay somewhere for the night.

Our plan is to catch a bus tomorrow morning to Astorga where we will continue with our second stage of our Camino. Cheers for now.

Stew & Wens 

St. Jean-Pied-De-Port                                               

Snow in the Pyrenees

Misty Pyrenees

Top of Pyrenees

Rain and mud! - on the way to Zubriri

Beautiful bridge out of Puenta La Reina

Alte Del Perdon - the famous Pilgrim metal statues

Walking into Pamplona

 Typical street in Puenta La Reina

Remnants of an old Roman bridge

Ancient stone cross

 Pilgrim supper in the Parish Albergue - Estella