Camino Day 5 July 27 Villava to Obanos

Camino Day 5 July 27 Villava to Obanos (Albergue Usda) 17.5 miles Total to date 64.5 miles

Good day on the road. There was a little up and a little down. I hiked 17.5 miles and seem to have made a friend. His name is Miquel and he is a yoga instructor in France, lives in an ashram and has been teaching yoga and meditation for years. We have ended up at the same alberques and crossed paths during the days. We seem to both like staying in the less busy places. He speaks English, so it is nice to have someone to talk to.

After I arrived here in Obanos, I showered and washed my clothes in the basin and hung them out to dry, and took a nap. When I got up It began to thunder and pour down rain. Then it began to hail!! It was big hail, the size of marbles. Good golly miss molly! Kevin said he saw news of fires in Spain and asked if I was in danger. The fires are on the border between France and Spain, north of Barcelona. That is quite a way from here, so I’m safe.

This morning I walked through Pamplona in the early morning. They have a lot of beautiful parks and interesting sights in Pamplona. As I got outside the city I was surrounded by acres and acres of sunflowers with all their little faces pointed toward the sun. This went on for miles. Then I walked up the Alto del Perdon, a big hill/mountain, where I saw the iconic metal sculptures of medieval pilgrims. These were seen in the movie, The Way starring Martin Sheen. Then it was down the other side over loose stones and through mountain scrubland to the rich farm land to miles and miles of vineyards and almaond trees.. I give huge kudos to the Spanish for farming this  dry rocky land, especially when they used to do it with animal draen plows or by hand. There are rocks on top of rocks on top of rocks. It makes walking very tricky. And makes farming very difficult. I’m sure if I were to research or was knowledgeable about farming I would learn that the rocky soil is conducive to hyyration or irrigation of the soil. However, today I remembered why I don't like hiking. When hiking you have to pay so much attention to where you place your feet that you don't get to gawk at the scenery or space out, unless you stop walking. 

I also discovered, or maybe realized is a better word choice, that I must have intimacy issues. I saw three different sets of people walking/hiking today holding hands. The first set I saw was two women and I was so shocked that some people were holding hands that I didn't gather any intel about their relationship. The next set was two women who appeared to be a mother and daughter. And the last was a man and a woman who looked to be a married couple of middle age. My reaction was that I wouldn't want to stroll around the block holding hands, never mind attempt mountain climbing hooked to another person. That's when it occurred to me that I might have intimacy issues. My poor dear sweet husband tries to slow dance with me every five years or so and I always mash the poor guy’s feet. 

During a break in the hail storm, Miquel and I went to a little market across the plaza from the alberque and got some olives, cheese , a wheat banquette, some packaged rice and vegi salad (sin preservativos.) We returned to the alberque and scrounged in our back packs for other edible treat and had a nice picnic style dinner. Now it's time to settle down for the night. I usually get up about 4:30 or 5 to get packed up and out the door by 6.