Dry dusty day to Azofra

We really hit our stride today, making great distance till lunchtime. But then the Spanish heat hit us and the afternoon of the last ks dragged on. We'd even contemplated walking an extra 5 km to the next Allbergue earlier on.. But were desperatly hot and tired .. So really needed to stop.  The kids are champions and doing well..

The roads were hard and dusty with very few shady spots to stop. The normal water fountains were scarce and the heat sucked every part of inspiration away from us.

Don't be fooled.. This was the only shade we saw all day. Gorgrous view though.. The camera just doesnt pick it up.

Miles of vinyards stretching out before us.

Artwork on the strange beehive dome thing near Najera.

At last some water and shade!

By the wayside, someone built a shelterand  pimp for cold water from the well for Pilgrims. 

At last.. A cool courtyard in the Azofra.

Logrono to Navarette

Day 12 of our pilgrimage and I think we are all getting our groove on, getting our stride right and falling into a great rhythm. 

We had such a relaxing day yesterday in Logrono; feasting on pinchos in the cathedral square; lazing round our hotel and me getting a massage... Mmmm.. This is what the Camino should be like.. Delighting in the simple things. 

Today wasn't as relaxing, the distance was similar- 12 km but it was a steep climb at the end, always a real drag as it gets hot.

We continue to meet interesting folk along the way and I find I am hungering to hear the aussie accent. I can spot it a mile away. 

Of the delightful things seen along the way..

We went into the church of St James in Logrono to light a candle for Age. Because its St James church, many pilgrims were there to pray for hardened feet and strong legs as they go.

I was so delighted to see red squirrels in the parklands today. Even better, we got to feed them and get really close. I think I have a thousand photos of squirrels from today.

The landscape has opened up into rolling hills, still populated by olive and vinyards. 

We met the Peasant Pilgrim today; a crazy old dude with no teeth but a huge passion for pilgrims. He offers biscuits and fruit to fortify tired pilgrims. He makes walking sticks and has trinkets to sell as well.

This huge steel cut out of a bull looms over the valley where Navarette sits.

So delighted to see we have 576 km to go.. Clocking those miles down.

This is the church of the assumption which sits in a beautiful courtyard in the middle of Navarette.

A beautiful medieval town where the streets are dominated by the stine facades of the buildings, with proud family crests carved in the sandstone.

Sadly no internet at our hostel, so this blog will be late.

Onward ho!! In Logrono

When I woke this morning, I was hot, shakey, nauseous and headackey.. Not a great start for the day. I know its delayed deydration as yesterday was so long and so hot, with no fountsins and dry dusty roads the whole way.

The kids were pretty pleased to hear that we would only walk half the day - only 10 km. At the edge of towns there is normally a board which shows the path to the next few towns as well as the gradient. So so pleased to see todays as gently sloping diwnward. Such a difference to the ups and downs of the last few days.

We are always careful to fill water bottles before we leave too.

It really was a beautiful day to be walking. The olive groves stretched out for miles; thier silvery leaves twinkling in the sunlit breeze. Birds called frim the hedgrows and butterflies flittered..

All too soon we arrived in Logrono. We decided to have an hours break for lunch and decide from there if we'd go on.

Hmmm pinchos in the main square.. We got too comfortable and elected to stay here tonight.

Had a very relaxing afternoon - including me getting a massage.mmmm