Logroño to Nájera

18.2 miles: 42,030 steps.

Today was a mixture of all things in Spain.  We started with overcast skies and I was thankful and blessed to see the countryside through something less peering out from the hood of a poncho.  It was such a blessing to hike free of rain gear.  

I loved the markers in Lograño.  Look how muddy my shoes were from two days ago.

I thought this was a beautiful tribute to the different kinds of pilgrims. We hiked by it just as we were leaving Lograño. It led into a tunnel under the interstate.

Spain's version of Swan Lake.  There must have been fifteen swans, all preening and strutting their stuff. 

Beautiful trails through a national park.  Dennis kept asking "where is the mud?"  Oh just wait!

Look at these beautiful red squirrels.  I think they are so cute.  I know that many people think squirrels are pests but I love them.  They are so funny and smart...even when they take one bite of my tomatoes and leave the rest to rot. And no the color is not off, this squirrel's tail is fiery red

This little guy just waltzed right up and posed for me.  Notice his longer ears.  He has the same tufted ears of our Maine Coon Cats.

Dennis looking much more enthusiastic to hike.  Unfortunately, later we would both be very tired.  Both of us under-trained this year.  I paid for it over the Pyrenees and Dennis paid for it today. He was a trooper!  

I wondered if this Peregrino hopped away on one foot. There was only one shoe on this marker.and its mate was no where to be seen.

This is the Osborne Bull, a forty-six foot tall billboard advertising Osborne Sherry.  I guess Spaniards know this is advertising Osborne Sherry because there was no name on it.  I had to research it to find out what it was. I got a laugh out it because Osborne is my mother's maiden name and like all families, there is a lot of bull.

So many signs along "The Way."

 

The Inglesia Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion is a magnificent church along the Camino.  It was built in the 1500's and dedicated to Mary.  It is one of the finest examples of a classicist church in the Rioja area.  Although the outside of the church was rather plain, the main altar was fabulous.  

The side altar (I am sure there is a more formal term) was a tribute to Saint James.  On the left is the full altar and on the right is a close-up of Santiago (St. James).  This was the prettiest and most ornate Saint James that I have seen anywhere in Spain.

Another tribute to St James, top figurine. This one is outside a cemetery.

It was still dry, positive blessing for me after day upon day of rain.  I kept seeing this sign (well, without the boots) indicating that something was one kilometer away.  We were so in hopes that it was a diet coke.  We didn't find any diet coke for miles and miles.  Whew.

I think this was a statue for a shepherd.  It was right out in the middle of a vineyard  It was a beautiful statue but we were a little mystified.  

Grape vines for as far as you could see.  Nothing budding out yet but I am sure that by the time I leave Spain they will be green and lush.

This would have been a very confusing turn but for the hand made arrows by some Pilgrim.  I was thankful for his or her thoughtfulness. Pilgrims have been leading the way for other Pilgrims for many years.  I just follow in the footsteps of all those who went before me.

You never know what is around the next bend of the Camino de Santiago.  We rounded the corner and this Spanish man was playing a soulful ballad.  I didn't understand the words but it had such a wistful sound.  I imagined it being sung by a lonely Peregrino, far from home, missing his loved ones or perhaps a it was a love song to a long lost Peregrina.  Whatever he was singing about was beautiful.

By this time, it was starting to seriously rain.  Dennis got to see some Spanish mud up close and personal.  His new hiking boots were no longer pristine. From his lips to God's ears.  It rained cats and dogs for the last hour of our hike.  We quickly donned our ponchos and headed bravely into the wind and rain.  By the time we got to Nájera, we were both tired and cold.  I was shivering despite the facet that I had on a tee-shirt, wool shirt, down jacket and rain poncho.

Loved this little shelter.  Although were were temped to stop, we were already drenched so we slogged on.

Our hotel is a quaint bed and breakfast and we were ever so glad to see it.  Now we have to wait until 8:00 for dinner.  Too late for tired and hungry pilgrims!