Distance 13.43 miles 6 hours 51 minutes. Hard
We have been in Europe over a week now and this is the fifth straight walking day. We feel it!
(Post Camino update) – This might have been the hardest day on the Camino. It was hard because we were not in Camino shape, our backpacks were still too heavy and those thermos bottles of water (bad idea). Carrying a thermos bottle was just enough to throw out our backs (Janice’s back) and caused her serious pain. We didn’t know that a thermos bottle was causing that pain until a few more days later. Janice was in terrible pain after about two hours of walking each day. We didn’t train with thermos bottles so we didn’t know – train like you will walk and don’t alter that plan on the Camino!
In Zubiri we learned that we need to adapt our Camino philosophy about our backpacks. In our house last night we learned how the backpack service works so when we leave Pamplona we will use the service. The Camino is not an exercise to carry our closet. Unfortunately we were too late today to use the service.
We had planned on a 10 mile day today but we were a bit shocked to find out I miscalculated the distance and it is actually over 13. With our heavy backpacks we were in for a long day. The weather was odd today cold, then warm and at times cold wind. We found ourselves changing our outerwear multiple times.
The Camino isn’t as spectacular today as it runs parallel to the main highway about a half mile speration. So we heard cars at times.
Fortunately we brought our lunch because the villages were mostly closed on Sunday.
Finally reaching Pamplona we googled our hotel just to find we were 58 minutes away
Tomorrow is an off day in Pamplona. We need it.
(Post Camino update) – I really thought this might be it for us. Janice had tremendous back pain and the miscalculation of distance really demoralized. But as often occurred on the Camino a way forward solution came upon us. In Pamplona we had a rest day, we scheduled the backpack forward service and bought a lightweight carry backpack for Janice. Indeed we were reenergized and looking forward again.