And is it goes!

Pamplona was wonderful last night. We went down to the square at around 5 pm and drank some beer and wine and watched the families sitting around. The older women gather in small groups to drink coffee and eat ice cream or pastries and the men sit on the benches talking with each other. Later the younger families come out with the strollers and sleepy children and by 8 pm the narrow street are filled with people looking for dinner as the bars do not re open until 7 pm.
We took the time to go to the Cathedral de Santa Maria for another special blessing. The priest again read out the countries that we are all from and then led us through a prayer and a blessing service. This ended with being led into the locked off alter area to sing something in Spanish which was a wonderful end to the day. There are many of us, although not so many as there would be in summer.
Everywhere we go, people wish us well and are helpful even though they must be overwhelmed with the increasing numbers of pilgrims every year. The accommodation last night was good, a renovated seminary built in the mid 1700s. The place was clean and new and immaculate and the bunks very comfortable. I am finding if costs less than $35 per day for everything.
Today we left early and walked in the dark through the city to the outskirts to find cofe con leche and some pastries after the firtst 5 kms which was better than yesterday. It was so hot and so tiring with not much of a hill, only 400 m or so, but sill in the direct sun and wind to boot, it was an exhausting day. We crept along doing about 24 kms today and stopping often to rest feet and to drink and eat. We arrived at a wonderful auberge in Puenta de la Riena and collapsed into the shower and the comfy bunk beds. Dinner was great and again very cheap.
Today, we passed wind mills and wonderful fields where the crops have been harvested. The vistas are stunning in the hot sun and the path seems to wander through fields and ancient towns with all sort of wonderful architecture. The people continue to be friendly and so helpful. I was even able to get a wonderful massage and treatment here this evening which has readied me for another day.
94 kms so far........ whoc would have though this possible as I worried my way through the training over the past monhts. My feet are fine and while achy at times, easily cured with a stop and a cool down.
Some people are now in serious troulbe, walking in flip flops to avoid more traumo to bad blisters and others simply not able to continue for a few days. I do not hobble like some and while quite heat exhausted by the afternoon and 7 hours of walking, feel that I am doing fine. Tips along the way include duck tape for the feet, vaseline seems to be favoured and of course good boots. Eating and drinking through the day make a difference and watching your foot steps especially at the end of the day when I am more tired and likely to trip and fall over my own boots is important. I made the mistake of looking at just how far it is to Santiago and wondered wht in hell i was thinking in planning this trip. However, as they say often, it is one step at a time and each one counts and the time and space to withdraw from life provides for something more profund than could be gained in any other way.
So it continues - tomorrow we head for Estella and the 4 of us will comtinue to walk as a group until it no longer seems right. I have enough time to meditate on my own and also really enjoy the company of the others.
Maggee