Our overnight stop in Sansol was an experience! A cross between Faulty towers and Acorn Antiques!

The building was absolutely magnificent and only recently become a pilgrim Alburgue, so everything was squeaky clean and new. We were met by an elderly gentleman who spoke no English, so limited Spanish and Google translate enabled us to book in and get to our rooms, all be it with no hot water for showers due to a problem with the plumbing.

Pilgrim dinner was cooked and served by same gentleman and he pushed a noisy steel trolley around the dining room. The meal was satisfying if not very tasty and wine was on tap!

Breakfast was just weird! Places were all set when we came to the table with a big bowl of hot milk into which he poured coffee! Peoples faces as they came in were amusing to watch as they figured out what was what! I had tea, my own Tbag, and he boiled the water in a saucepan, so I guess no kettle available!

We left Sansol in sunshine and continued our walk along winding tracks through olive groves and vineyards- I guess Rioja grapes now. The countryside became gradually less lush green and more Mediterranean with wild rosemary, thyme, rocket and more mustard growing along the banks.

We climbed up a steep hill to Torres del Rio and out past the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which is believed to have been built by the Knights Templar.

We walked on , sometimes a bit on the road, but then off again into open countryside with our lunch stop of Viana in the distance. There’s always a view of the mountains around us, and we can see the mountains behind us where we’ve walked from.

4 of our group took a taxi to Logrono, not wanting to walk the last 10 km on some tarmaced bits. 3 of us carried on and it was a lovely walk. Lots of wild flowers and birds , yes, a bit of concrete, but also a lot of off track walking and a lovely view of Logrono and the cathedral spires as we walked into town along the banks of the river. We were also lucky enough to see a baby stork on its nest with its parents circling around with food!

We meandered through the town which is beautiful, narrow streets, interesting big wooden doors and balconies covered in flowers hanging over our heads. The cathedral in the centre is surrounded by restaurants, bars and cafes and we stopped for a well earned congratulatory cara con limon (my new fave summer drink I think!) , before heading to our hotel for the night with the luxury of individual rooms and en-suite bathrooms!

So I’ve walked from France , across the Pyrenees into the Basque Country and on into Spain!

166 kms of wonderful scenery, steep hills and ankle breaking downhill climbs. I’ve met people from Israel, Germany, Ireland, France , the US, Denmark, Holland and Spain, all on the same path.

Some we met up with again and again , others only once or twice. Everyone had their own reasons for walking a Camino, for some it was one of many they’d done and others, like me, their 1st, but for most it was just because they liked walking and it was there!

It’s been a great achievement and I’m looking forward to the next challenge!