Day 4 - Pamplona to Puenta la Reina

Today was a bit of a bear. Leaving Pamplona in the dark was a bit hard to find markings for The Way. Typically, marking are at every place where the path forks. Well, in the city of Pamplona, that´s every block! I luckily found my way out with only a one block detour. Once the sun started rising, I could see what was ahead...a 300 m climb to a ridge which had dozens of wind turbines visible from Pamplona. Ugh...more climbing. Without a walking companion, I didn´t want to drop my bag outside of a bar (cafe) in Pamplona, so I walked on without breakfast. At the top of the ridge, there was a roach coach with sandwiches, cold drinks, etc. I bought a large chorizo sandwich and washed it down with a real Coca Cola (real as in sugar, not high fructose corn syrup). It hit the spot. The descent was treacherous and painful on the feet given the pitch and the rocky path. I made it to Uterga and washed my feet in the cold water from a pilgrims´ fountain and put on some clean socks. On El Camino, sometimes it´s the simple things that make everything better. I walked on to Puenta la Reina, where I´m staying at an albergue run by the Padres Reperadores. It´s nice...it has internet (always pay) and a washer and dryer. For dinner, several of us just made pasta from ingredients we bought at the supermercado. I bought some bread. meat, and cheese for breakfast and lunch as well.

On I walk.