Day 7 - walking from Estella to Los Arcos (21km)

My legs were less stiff and sore today which made the walking easier. The scenery is slowly changing each day. The dirt is a redish colour like I am told it is in Prince Edward Island and the mountains are slowly levelling out. As my body slowly adjusts to the walking it feels like I am just now starting the pilgrimmage.

Just outside of Estella is the town of Irache where they have a special fountain from which you can get both wine and water. The wine side doesn´t flow quite as quickly. If I had planned in advanced you might have been able to have see me on the web cam www.irache.com . It was around 9:30am when I passed, so maybe a little early for Canada.

That morning I was given a card in a shop where I bought some fruit that listed ten commandments for pilgrims. The first was the camino to Santiago is not a marathon. I had a long passage of 12 km between towns on small dirt path with fields on either side and then tree covered shields to reflect.

Some travellers try to be the first to arrive at the next town or albergue, and there is definitely pressure during the summer when the beds are distributed first come first serve. However now when there are fewer pilgrims and less albergues open the challenge is to try to go longer distances. I know some people that have done 40 or more km a day and heard rumours of a woman who grew up in the mountains that did 70km. I am fine with 20 or so. In a lot of ways the camino can be compared to life or a life time and it is a good reminder that life is not a marathon.