Before we left the albergue in Pamplona, this guy from the luggage transport company walked in and, before I knew it, Stephen, Raffy, and Alan were all sending their backpacks to our next destination and I was the only one walking with a pack.

(It probably weighs around 12 kilos now, possibly more.)

Nine hours and 45 minutes, and three toilet stops later (- we ate at two of these stops; the boys stopped for coffee at the third stop so I walked on ahead), and I’m finally at Puente La Reina.

A 77-year old man asked me along the way how I was doing. I told him I was fine.

“Are you sure?”

“Well, if I stop and think about it, I can tell you ten thousand aches and pains that I have right now so I won’t do that and, for now, I’m fine.”

Since I’ve been alone for a while, I’ve taken inventory and can tell you that:

– My feet have turned into mush.

– While I was in my walking shoes, I could feel the pain in my toes and in my ankles.

– My left knee froze again. I would have died if I didn’t have my walking sticks. As in Patagonia, they have become my crutches.

– The backpack weighed heavily on my hips. But, now, I can feel the pain in my shoulders too, and all over my back.

– What am I talking about??? Every inch of me is in pain and I’m exhausted beyond belief.

The walk took forever because we were constantly putting on and removing clothing. Because it was raining, and then it was sunny, and then it was windy, and then it was hot, and then it was cold.

I tried to upload more photos but it was taking forever and this whole thing disappeared (- am typing this on my phone) and I had to rewrite it and I don’t want to do that again and, right now, I really really need to shower and pass out.

Accomodation:

Plaza Catedral Albergue, Pamplona

Excellent location right beside the Cathedral. The hostel is new and run by its young owners.

The day we checked in, the rate for a bunk bed went up from 15 euros per bed to 17, with breakfast.

Used a sleeping bag because no blanket was provided. We were in the room on the ground floor which had five double deck beds and lockers. Each bed had a light and an electric outlet.

FYI, the beds on the left side of this particular room have access to a counter that runs along the wall, which is perfect for putting stuff.

Stephen was on the second floor and they had massive windows that looked out onto a garden.

Bathroom had motion-sensor lights and showers that shut off automatically. I pressed the mechanism continuously but, apparently, the better technique was to lean on it.

Liked it and would stay there again.

Albergue Puente, Puente La Reina

We stayed in a room with two double deck beds (12 euros per bed, with breakfast) that had access to a patio, which we really liked. Pillow cases and duvets were provided so I didn’t use my sleeping bag.

The room, however, was too small for all of our stuff so we also made use of the common area outside the room, probably meant for those consuming stuff from the vendo machine right outside our door. (We assumed – wrongly, of course – that we were the only ones staying at the albergue.)

The bathrooms were oddly situated in the middle of the corridor.

During breakfast, they didn’t have any plates or bowls or utensils out. We figured it was the lean season and they were understaffed so they probably didn’t want any of their kitchen stuff to go missing.

(Breakfast was laid out at night before the staff went home so that there was no staff present the next day during breakfast. This was the same for the albergue is Pamplona, its sister company.)