Miles Day/Total 13.6/75.6
Weather cool start, hot and sunny.
It was preconceived after yesterday's 27km long day with the big hill, that today's 21.9km day with no big hill had great opportunity to be an easier trek. Perhaps it was but replacing one big hill with numerous smaller more moderate ones with hotter weather makes that a very debatable point. The sun was hot and by the time I walked into Estella I was tired and ready to stop walking.
The day started out fine before thecsun came up the terrain was moderate and it was cool, got a great start to the day.
The sun came up and the terrain became more varied simultaneously. It was not as intense as yesterday but it was more continuous up and down and the sun and heat were dialed up a couple of notches. Nothing debilitating but challenging for sure.
I feel as if this blog has been a bit over focused on the physical challenge, this is most likely because the initial stages are the most mountainous and the untrained body is going through a bit of a shock. Rest assured the beauty of the Spanish countryside along with the staggering impact if saying a prayer or two in the staggeringly beautiful 13th & 14th century Spanish Churches are just a few of the things that make the physical suffering meaningless. The camaraderie amongst the Pilgrims and the selfless sacrifices made fir each other are an inspiration.
Among the special moments today were going off path and spending a few minutes in prayer in the ruins of a 11th century hermitage dedicated the the Archangel Michael, meeting a recently ordained French Priest who will be doing missionary work in China and having a great conversation with some fellow Catholics about what their experiences have been thusfar on the Camino.
Yes the physical aspect of the Pilgrimage is very real and always present, but inspirational gifts are as well.
Estella is beautiful small city.
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