Day 7, Thursday, August 29th, 2019: Azqueta to Sansol
Another warm morning as we left Azqueta early in the morning headed for Sansol. Our bodies are settling into this rhythm and we are slowly getting used to it. It really is a demanding task for our bodies and walking 14 to 17 miles a day, every day, with a 19 pound pack is no picnic! For me, the feet ache while walking and the knees ache when I stop.
Today, we had one big hill to start the day, but the rest of the day we walked through farmland and vineyards. It was almost 8 miles to our first real break for coffee and something to eat. It was also shaping up to be a very warm day.
We stopped in Los Arcos in a square beside the church and had our break and chatted with some friends we had met before, and some we had just met. A young Italian from Milan was walking with his girlfriend for only a week, as they were completing The Camino in stages, a little bit every year. We have found many working that particular plan.
After Los Arcos, it was off into the growing morning heat, across 5 more miles of open farmland with very little shade. We would leave the path a little ways to stand in the shade of and olive tree. We found one spot near a river crossing with a little bench that was perfectly placed for a rest in the shade before we climbed a large hill into Sansol.
We arrived at the Casa Rural El Oliva de Sansol and rang up the Hospitalero, Anna. She drove over and got us checked in and gave us a choice of one of two rooms with a private bath. We chose the on with the bathtub as we hadn’t had a good soak in while!
After cleaning up, hand-washing our clothes from the day and hanging them in the courtyard to dry, we headed out for some refreshment at another Albergue in town. Those first beers get better and better each day!
We napped a bit, wrote a bit, and then went to a different Albergue for the pilgrim’s menu and to connect with Camino friends. We ran into Katarina from Sicily, whom we had met a few days ago in Larrasoaña, and she told us tomorrow was her last day on The Camino for this year. We wished her well. We also ran into Patty, whom we had not seen since departing Orisson on day 2. She was traveling with Linda and Diane, but seemed to be bypassing them daily, as her pace is a bit quicker and she isn’t quite ready to end her day when her friends are. She seems to be doing really well!
After dinner, we went back to the Casa Rural and prepared for tomorrow’s hike to Logroño.
Today’s “Camino Lesson:” Some parts of the path can be smoothed by time and the pilgrims that have gone before, and some can never become smooth.
Along The Camino, many paths on relatively flat open ground have been smoothed by the passage of others. The rocky slopes, however, remain largely untamed and treacherous. In our lives, some things are easier because others have shown us the way or shared their experience. But some things, no matter how much we hear or read or think we know, will always be a great challenge. Do not be afraid. You can find you way.
Another glorious sunrise!
These markers guide our way
Getting into the groove for the day
The grapes are lovely!
Our room at El Oliva de Sansol! Perfect!
