Camino Frances 2024 Day 4 - Jun 8, 2024
23 km from Pamploma to Puente de la Reina, a good walk out of the city and steep up to Alto del Perdon in the burning sun. Then it was steeply down a rocky path and through about three towns, all sleepy, except for one that seemed to have the entire region in a big tent for an event of some sort. We saw Gustave and the Brazilians a lot of the trail including at this cute church when we stopped for lunch. Early in the day we met Annette a German vet who has spent 20+ years and England and is returning home to a new job in Frankfurt and connected with her again coming down from the peak. Some people cycle the camnio and a family with 2 young boys passed us at lunch. We came across Trilla a 70+ year old grandmother from Tanzania who had come all the way from Australia. She was definitely my highlight - such courage! We spent the night in a nice albergue (even if with terrible internet that made it near impossible to blog) and had a nice dinner with Sandra and Annette. Volcker sat nearby. We heard of a German woman traveling with her sister who died the day earlier. It was the third death in as many weeks in the Navarra camino area. Sad. Back still sore but all well. Moved from headache, stiff legs, shoulder pain, knee pain to mostly pain free today. Lots of people to meet and talk to but am not always in the mood. Prefer to observe and listen - less distraction from the journey. The lonesomeness is refreshing sometimes, as is controlling your own pace. There are lots of signs along the way each day. One lesson I learned is to look for them. Look for signs…
