Phew - we are tired. We hiked our longest hike ever- 19 miles. We didn´t mean to go so far but the albuergue in Viana was closed so we had to keep going.
I still don´t have any blisters but I am sore and achey as is Justin. The hike tomorrow is supposed to be 20 miles, but we are thinking about cutting it down to 8miles as long as the alburgue is open in that town- they won´t pick up their phone.
We got an early start after all the merriment last night, leaving the alburgue around 8am. I think that was our favorite hostel so far because it was very homey feeling with a nice living room and I found a nice wooden floor and mats to do yoga!!
The scenery wasn´t as undulating today and it stayed cloudy with little showers the whole day which was too bad. We never got very wet or cold though which was good. I think we were also sad today because there weren´t any wine fountains.
We stopped for lunch in Viana where we thought we were staying. We sat around and had some beers waiting for the alburgue to open at 3pm. Around 3:10 one of our Spanish friends came to tell us it wasn´t open and we had to walk to Logroño.
So we didn´t get in to Logroño till 6pm. It´s a big city - about 100,000 people or more. The hostel is only 3 euros, but it´s much less homey than last night and a lot of our friends we were walking with have stopped walking or went some where else. It´s funny how attached to our new friends I got.
In Logroño we walked around and bumped into a few of the Spainards from the trail. We had some yummy tapas with them and then got gyros to go and walked home. We are both very tired.
I´m going to shower and stretch and then bedtime. Thanks again for all the advice from everyone and again let us know if you have any questions for us!
Felizes sueñas!
Here is a map of our trail. Hopefully you can find some of the town names on here to follow us!
4 comments:
If I remember right, the next wine fountain is outside a winery west of Cacabelos in Galicia. So you have a few weeks to wait!
It's a genuine fountain rather than spiggots in a wall though this time!
Caroline.
Thanks for posting that the albergue in Ventosa was closed. The CSJ guide book says that it is open all year. Will let them know.
If you guys can walk 20kms - the hostel in Ventosa is open all year. It is really very nice with a fireplace in the living room and a fairly well equipped kitchen - and there is a makeshift pantry/shop where the hospitalera sells food items.
If you can bear to take a painkiller, Ibuprofen pills and creams are really cheap in Spain and will help relieve your tired muscles and foot aches and pains.
Take care peregrinos,
Sil
Oops! Looked at the wrong town. The CSJ guide says that the hostel in Viana is only open from April to October.
Navarette - 2 albergues
The first one has an admission priority - takes pilgrims who have walked more than 20km.
The 2nd one Albergue el Cantaro has had good reports - it also has double rooms with bath at 35 euro.
Najera - I refuge (no word on openeing and closing)
Azofra - 2 albergues: First one - key from Senora Maria Martinez - open all year.
2nd refuge: La Fuente - Closes 1st October.
Ciruena: 1 refuge San Millan (about 200m of the trail at Cirinuela - good reports.
Santo Domingo - Open all year.
Granon (my best albergue - sleep in a bell tower of the church) Open all year. You might have to sing for your supper!
Redecilla - should be open.
Viloria de la Rioja - closes in October
Villamyor del Rio - no mention of oepneing / closing months.
Belorado - 2 refuges: One closes Sept:
Other should be open.
Tosantos (my other favourite albergue) Should be open.
Sil
I echo Sil's recommendation for Granon.
I have stayed there twice and I think it's one of the best refuges on the camino. No bunk beds, just soft mats on the floor on a mezzanine area, which are surprisingly comfortable. They also prepare a great communal meal and breakfast! The first time, the preist was also at the meal.
I would also try to stay at the refuge in Ruitelan run by the Buddhist brothers.
Caroline
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