Day 7: Estella to Torres del Rio

I always forget 
how much people mean to me 
but every once in a while, 
there are those nights
where everything goes perfectly 
And I look around and see 
The friends I’m surrounded by, 
And I feel like I wouldn’t replace them 
For anything in the whole world  – A.M 

Route: Estella/Ayegui to Torres del Rio
Date:  26 June 2014
Distance:  29 km (18 mi)
Accommodations:  Albergue La Pata de Oca

The night in Torres was the first time since the Tres Amigos had left the Camino Francés back in Pamplona that it felt like Olalla and I truly had developed another Camino “family”.

It had begun the day before on Day 7, when I had told Olalla not long after leaving Irache that I needed to spend some time walking alone. It would actually be the first time since meeting at Orisson that she and didn’t walk together; as an introvert accustomed to spending vast quantities of time alone, I was discovering that spending 24 hours a day with one other person, especially one that I had just met, presented quite a challenge.

Fuente de los Moros, Villamayor de Monjardin (photo credit Jule Berlin)

Not long after we parted that morning, I ran into the Mexican sisters, Yeni and Ana, at the Fuente de los Moros (Fountain of the Moors) just before Villamayor de Monjardin. About a mile later, a tall blonde woman began to stride past us. “Buen Camino,” I called out. “I’m Elissa. What’s your name?” She introduced herself as Armanda  and the four of us spent the rest of the day walking together.

Between Villamayor de Monjardin and Los Arcos with our new friend, Armanda, who lives in England

That afternoon when we arrived at Albergue La Pata de Oca in Torres del Rio, several of our friends including Olalla, Kon, Pavel, and Abril and her father, showed up and we all spent the afternoon and evening talking and laughing on the patio and at dinner in their little restaurant.

Fun times with Camino family!

That night, everyone except Armanda and I, got up at 3 in the morning (although they did wake us up to see if we wanted to join them) to do a night walk. It was an adventure Armanda and I didn’t mind missing!

Photo Journal of Day 7

This is the sport recreation center at Ayegui, outside Estella, that provides beds to pilgrims in their basement during the summer.

What is this strange thing, you might ask? I have no idea other than it was some giant machine in the gymnasium at the Ayegui albergue.

The view of the Monastery of Irache from Ayegui. It won’t take us too long to walk there.

At the free wine fountain in Irache first thing in the morning.

Olalla decided to give the wine a taste. I opted out.

I believe this is looking back at the Monastery of Irache just outside Ayegui/Estella

Approaching the little village of Azqueta, Navarre:

I had the tendency to at least greet, if not introduce myself to just about everyone I came across on the Camino. This couple shared their poignant story about walking the Camino in memory of their son. We continued to cross paths over the next week and shared a special connection.

Approaching the village of Villamayor de Monjardin:

Olalla and Kon walking up behind me.

You can just make out the tower of the Church of San Andrés in Villamayor de Monjardin in the background.

Between Villamayor de Monjardin and Los Arcos:

Outside Villamayor de Monjardin

A surprise pop-up café along the edge of the Camino. We decided not to stop.

Yeni and Ana, the sister from Mexico who walked from Vezelay, France.

Almost to Los Arcos

Los Arcos:

Happy to have a rest just outside the Church of Santa Maria in Los Arcos. Only 7.5 more km until Torres del Rio!

Church of Santa Maria in Los Arcos

Church of Santa Maria in Los Arcos

Church of Santa Maria in Los Arcos

Church of Santa Maria in Los Arcos

The garden of the Church of Santa Maria in Los Arcos

Between Los Arcos and Torres del Rio (some of my favorite views on the Camino):

Camino de Santiago: Pilgrims outside Sansol, heading ever westward…

Sansol

At Albergue Pata de Oca in Torres del Rio:

Mmmm, a cool snack after a long walk.

A tired but happy Pavel.

Ice cream for some, beer for others.

Tonight’s accommodations

Dinner (I changed my mind so many times while ordering, I was driving the poor hospitalera crazy):

Mmmm

Desert was a chocolate pudding.

I actually got tired of eating french fries.

Click the photo below to see the post from Day 6, Puente la Reina to Estella.